Calculations for the Solar Energy Lab 
Converting Temperature Change --> Amount of Energy

Temperature and Energy are not the same.  Temperature and Energy are related however.  If you know how much the temperature changes, you can calculate  how much energy is involved.        
Note:   The symbol "" means the change in a quantity. Here you will calculate T, or the change in temperature.

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Follow these steps to calculate the amount of heat energy added to the water in the jar. Show your work.
1.  Find out how much did the WATER temperature changed (usually this will be an increase).

    FORMULA (using water temperature): 


2. Calculate the rise in temperature per minute

    FORMULA: 



3. Calculate the heat energy added to the jar

    FORMULA: 





4.  Calculate the collecting area

    FORMULA: 





5.  Calculate calories per minute per square centimeter

    FORMULA:





Understanding your Results:  Your answer is the amount of heat energy absorbed each minute by each square centimeter of collecting area. This quantity is also called the Solar Constant . Scientists have measured the Solar Constant to be approximately 2.0 calories per min per sq cm. Is your measurement close to this?