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Sunday, February 7, 2010
Physics Newsbite #1:

Mirror, mirror on the wall, would you give me electricity now?


Fig. 1: Rows and rows of mirrors at Nevada Solar One near Las Vegas


Have you ever wondered about the incredibility of mirrors? Are you awed by magical ability of mirrors which allows you to look at yourself? Now, mirrors are no longer just for the purpose of vanity, but they can have a greater function of generating electricity for the use of mankind!


In the United States Nevada Solar One power plant, 250 acres of gently curved mirrors lined in long troughs are used to concentrate sunlight on long steel pipes filled with oil. The powerfully reflective surface of mirrors serves to reflect light rays onto a concentrated surface so as to generate heat of up to

about 400 degrees Celsius! The heat then produces a steam which drives a turbine and dynamo, generating sufficient electricity for 14000 households, which is about a quarter of Singapore! Now, that’s hot!


Just imagine the unlimited potential of benefits of the harnessing of solar energy. (149 words)

References:

Johnson, G. (September 2009). Plugging into the Sun. National Geographic, September 2009, page 28 to 51.


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