Two identical greenhouses were next to each other. There were solar panels on the roof of one greenhouse but not on the roof of the other greenhouse. This table shows how the temperature of each greenhouse changed over 2hours.

Question

Greenhouse Initial temperature (°C) Final temperature (°C)
Greenhouse with solar panels 8 19
Greenhouse with no solar panels 8 20

Answer 1

Based on the data provided, we can analyze the temperature changes in both greenhouses over the 2-hour period.

1. Greenhouse with Solar Panels:

   • Initial Temperature: 8°C
   • Final Temperature: 19°C
   • Temperature Increase: 19°C - 8°C = 11°C

2. Greenhouse without Solar Panels:

   • Initial Temperature: 8°C
   • Final Temperature: 20°C
   • Temperature Increase: 20°C - 8°C = 12°C

Summary:

• The greenhouse with solar panels had a temperature increase of 11°C.
• The greenhouse without solar panels had a slightly larger temperature increase of 12°C.

Observation:

Despite the presence of solar panels, which are typically designed to absorb sunlight and convert it into energy (and potentially heat), the greenhouse without the panels actually achieved a slightly higher final temperature after 2 hours. This could be due to factors such as the effectiveness of thermal properties in retaining heat, shading caused by the solar panels, or other environmental factors affecting heat gain in each greenhouse.

This scenario invites further investigation into the design and placement of solar panels and how they might impact thermal dynamics within similar structures.