Question
Question 5
1.5 pts
An engineer must decide how to set up a field of solar panels. Which of these should the engineer consider to capture the maximum amount of solar energy? Select all that apply.
780 74% 0
• that the panels will be closer to the sun in the summer than in the winter
• whether the solar panels can be adjusted to a 90° angle to face the incoming light rays
• how far away the location of the solar panel field is from the equator
• whether the panels should face north, south, east, or west
1.5 pts
An engineer must decide how to set up a field of solar panels. Which of these should the engineer consider to capture the maximum amount of solar energy? Select all that apply.
780 74% 0
• that the panels will be closer to the sun in the summer than in the winter
• whether the solar panels can be adjusted to a 90° angle to face the incoming light rays
• how far away the location of the solar panel field is from the equator
• whether the panels should face north, south, east, or west
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To capture the maximum amount of solar energy, the engineer should consider the following factors:
- **Whether the solar panels can be adjusted to a 90° angle to face the incoming light rays**: Adjustability allows the panels to be oriented optimally throughout the day and seasons for maximum sunlight exposure.
- **How far away the location of the solar panel field is from the equator**: The latitude of the location can affect the amount of solar radiation received, as areas closer to the equator generally receive more direct sunlight year-round.
- **Whether the panels should face north, south, east, or west**: The orientation of solar panels is crucial for maximizing solar energy capture, depending on the location and the sun's path.
The other option, **that the panels will be closer to the sun in the summer than in the winter**, is less relevant since the difference in distance from the sun due to Earth's elliptical orbit is not significant enough to impact solar energy capture compared to the aforementioned factors.
Therefore, the selected considerations should be:
- Whether the solar panels can be adjusted to a 90° angle to face the incoming light rays
- How far away the location of the solar panel field is from the equator
- Whether the panels should face north, south, east, or west
- **Whether the solar panels can be adjusted to a 90° angle to face the incoming light rays**: Adjustability allows the panels to be oriented optimally throughout the day and seasons for maximum sunlight exposure.
- **How far away the location of the solar panel field is from the equator**: The latitude of the location can affect the amount of solar radiation received, as areas closer to the equator generally receive more direct sunlight year-round.
- **Whether the panels should face north, south, east, or west**: The orientation of solar panels is crucial for maximizing solar energy capture, depending on the location and the sun's path.
The other option, **that the panels will be closer to the sun in the summer than in the winter**, is less relevant since the difference in distance from the sun due to Earth's elliptical orbit is not significant enough to impact solar energy capture compared to the aforementioned factors.
Therefore, the selected considerations should be:
- Whether the solar panels can be adjusted to a 90° angle to face the incoming light rays
- How far away the location of the solar panel field is from the equator
- Whether the panels should face north, south, east, or west