About This Lesson
This activity from the U.S. Department of Energy allows students the opportunity to explore different methods for collecting solar energy and using that energy for heating, creating electricity and applying that energy to an industrial process. Experimenting with different types of materials will also allow them to understand how the properties of different materials can affect the outcome of their experiment. Students will be creating a parabolic trough that will heat one pound of water to as high of a temperature as can be achieved without damaging the water storage container.