Physics
The Horizon Energy Box provides more than 100 possible experiments to give students a complete understanding of fuel cell technologies for renewable energy applications. The included CD-ROM contains curriculum content for 40 hours of classroom activities.
The Energy Box contains a comprehensive mix of alternative energy applications, including:
- Fuel cell and hydrogen experiments
- Wind and solar experiments
- Thermal and electric mobility science experiments
The fuel cell science experiments, which were designed by fuel cell experts, include the PEM hydrogen fuel cell, direct ethanol fuel cell, salt-water fuel cell, and reversible fuel cellall in one kit. The Energy Box introduces renewable energy with a solar panel, a wind turbine, a temperature cell, and a hand crank generator. A super capacitor is also included, illustrating the latest in energy storage technology. The kits can be used to address Next Generation Science Standards*: MS-PS3-2, HS-PS3-3, HS-PS3-4.
The kits include:
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen
- Ethanol Fuel Cell
- Salt-Water Fuel Cell Kit
- Micro Fuel-Cell Science Kit
Wind & Solar
- Solar Hydrogen Generation Set
- Wind Energy Kit
Other Kits
- Horizon Energy Monitor
- Thermal Power Science Kit
- Super Capacitor Science Kit
- Electric Mobility Science Kit
The experiments, which can be conducted in stations, include:
Solar energy experiments
- Study the effect of heat and cooling on solar panels
- Evaluate the effect of shade on solar panels
- Explore the effect of tilt angle on solar panels
- Find the solar panel's maximum power point
Hydrogen energy experiments
- Electrolysis mode: generating hydrogen and oxygen from water
- Fuel cell mode: generating electricity from hydrogen and oxygen
- Determining the minimum voltage for water decomposition
- Polarization states for hydrogen fuel cells
Wind energy experiments
- How many blades are best1, 2, 3, or more?
- Use 3 different curved blade shapes
- Use blades you make yourself
- Evaluate turbine efficiencies
- Measure revolutions per minute (rpm)
- Tuning for maximum power
- Determine how blade angle or pitch affects output power
- Study the process of hydrogen generation
Bio-energy experiments
- Create electricity from ethanol and water
- Exploring polarity
- Ethanol fuel consumption
- Exploring the effect of varying fuel concentrations
- Exploring the effects of temperature
Thermal energy experiments
- Power a fan with 2 heat sources
- Analyze power generation with the Renewable Energy Monitor
- Understand thermoelectric effect
Mechanical/electrical energy experiments
- Explore hand crank energy generation and energy conversion from mechanical to electrical energy
- Explore super capacitor energy storage
- Power a fan with electrical energy from the super capacitor
- Power a fan with mechanical energy from the hand crank
Salt-water energy experiments
- Create energy from salt-water solution and power a fan
- Analyze current and voltage dependence (variations) using different salt concentrations
- Analyze current and voltage dependence (variations) using different temperatures
- Analyze current and voltage dependence (variations) using different fuel volumes
Multi-energy powered car experiments
- Power a car with a hydrogen fuel cell (reversible and mini fuel cell)
- Power a car with a salt water fuel cell
- Power a car with solar energy
- Power a car with a super capacitor and hand crank
- Power a car with different forms of hydrogen (hydrogen gas and hydrogen hydride)
Note: Additional materials may be needed but are not included to maximize the utility of the potential experiments. The Hydrostik Pro can be recharged with the Hydrofill® Pro, which is available for separate purchase (item #759262).
*Next Generation Science Standards® is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.
This product is specially made for use in science education laboratories; no certificate of analysis is available.