Chemistry Teacher wanting to incorporate solar panels into cirriculum...needs ideas!!

[MichaelG05]

I'm a 23 year old high school chemistry teacher who wants to include a solar panel lab/project of some sort into the cirriculum to introduce solar power and alternative energy. I'd like for the kids to build a solar panel and have it power something at the school, but as I'm new to the whole idea I'm wondering is it cost effecient to do?

I have 28 kids and would split them into groups of 5 or 6. I'm wondering a few things:
1) What's the price tag looking on something like this?
2) What are some things that could be powered?
3) How difficult is it to install a solar panel?

All of this would be relatively small scale of course due to cost, but what kinds of things could I do to get their feet wet?

[Mike90250]

You would need to buy packaged panels, that are already sealed with wires attached, the individual cells are generally to brittle and have razor sharp edges, and soldering wire leads to them is difficult.

A smallish, 1 watt, 5V panel can light a LED (but it's hard to see the LED in the bright light needed to make the solar panel work) spin a small motor with a fan, or a little water pump. Even making the needles on a analog voltmeter move is something !

[rollandelliott]

I'd hook it up to a fan inside the class room.

[russ]

I'd hook it up to a fan inside the class room.

A 1 watt 5 volt panel connected to a fan?

[Naptown]

A 1 watt 5 volt panel connected to a fan?

A very very very very very small fan

[MichaelG05]

What about solar panel RC cars?

[Naptown]

What about solar panel RC cars?

Now your talking! this would be both engaging and fun for students and the components are most likely commercially available.