Apricus Anna
Apricus Anna loves the sun! She is a lizard, and lizards are cold-blooded, meaning they need the sun to keep their bodies warm. Just like Apricus Solar Collectors need the sun to heat up the water for your showers!
Hi kids! My name is Apricus Anna! I love the sun and would like to teach you a little more about how we can use some of the energy it gives us every day.
You might have heard of using solar to produce electricity, well we can also use solar to produce heat, lots of it! We can use heat from the sun to heat our homes, make hot water for your shower and even to cook food!
What is Global Warming?
When we get sick, our head may hurt, our belly may ache, and sometimes our body gets very hot with a fever. These are called symptoms. Symptoms are signs that we are not healthy and we must do the right things to get better. Sometimes Mum and Dad may take you to the doctor to figure out what the symptoms mean and what you can do to get better.
The earth right now is getting sick and has many symptoms. The polar ice caps and glaciers are slowly melting. Weather patterns are changing all over the world, causing floods, droughts, and severe storms. This not only affects people, but also animals as their homes are destroyed. Scientists have seen these symptoms of illness and believe the earth is getting sick. They have been taking the earth’s temperature for some time now and have found that the earth is getting hotter and hotter showing signs of its own kind of fever. This earth fever is what we call global warming.
What causes global warming? Many things cause global warming, like burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, and clearing forests. Just as smoking is bad for our health, burning fossil fuels is bad for the atmosphere as it releases lots of harmful gases (called greenhouse gases), making the earth hotter. If we don’t find alternative energies to maintain our lifestyles, our earth will become very sick. We must do our part to protect our earth since the earth is our home.
What is Heat Energy?
Anything that feels hot contains heat energy. Have you looked outside on a hot summer day and seen waves “rising” from the asphalt or concrete road? You are seeing heat! When you have a bath or shower you are using hot water. That is often heated by using electricity or burning gas, but these energy sources produce large amounts of carbon dioxide, which is a harmfulgreenhouse gas. A much better option is to use solar energy, which is energy from the sun that is both free and clean.
What is Solar Energy?
Solar means “from the sun”. Solar energy is energy that comes from the sun. Solar energy is part of the group of clean energy sources that includes wind and water. These energy sources are often called renewable, because they are unlimited in supply.
When you go outside and the sun is shining on you, you feel warm. You feel warm because the sun producesheat energy. This heat energy falls in the form of radiation waves similar to the ones you see rising from the asphalt or concrete on a hot summer day. Be careful! The sun is so powerful it can burn you!Click hereto learn about how to be safe when outside in the sun.
Solar energy can also be used to produce electricity using "PV" panels. These special panels can convert sunlight into electricity.
Why is the sun so wonderful?
It is clean and unlimited. We always know the sun will be here tomorrow to give us clean, free energy. Fossil fuels will run out one day and also create pollution that causesglobal warming.
What is Electric Energy?
Have you seen lightning during a thunder storm? Have you ever touched a doorknob in the winter and felt a shock? These are examples of electric energy, also known as electricity! The lights in your house, the computer you are using, and most other appliances in your home use electric energy to function!
How is this electricity produced?
Normally electricity is made in big power stations by burning coal. Unfortunately this is very bad for the environment as it pollutes the air with bad gases. Pollution makes the sky dirty, can kill plants and animals, makes the air difficult to breathe and can make you sick! Yuck! It also contributes to global warming.
Never fear! There is a solution! We can use solar energy! That’s right! Our very own sun can produce much the energy we need for making hot water and even can help to heat your home in the winter.
Using Solar Energy is a great way to help the earth!
Play Safe in the Sun
Hey Kids! Its Anna here with my friend Sid the seagull. We would like to remind you to play it smart and safe when out in the sun. The sun can be very useful and fun, but it’s hot stuff! We always remember our sun safety, and never play in the sun for too long!
Before going outside remember to follow the Apricus Outdoor Checklist:
1. Slip, Slop, Slap!*
The sun’s rays are powerful. They can damage our skin if we are outside in the sun too long. If we don’t protect ourselves, we will get a sunburn. Sunburns hurt and can lead to skin cancer later in life. We don’t want that! When going outside, always.
Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen, and Slap on a hat!
2. Drink!
Our bodies are made of 70% water. Just as the sun can dry our wet clothes on a clothes line, the sun’s heat can dry us out too! This is called dehydration. Dehydration is very dangerous and can make you sick. Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after outside activity. Doctors recommend us to drink at least two liters of water a day, and this is without going outside!
3. Do not stare at the sun!
Kids, whatever you do, do NOT stare at the Sun. It can blind you! When going outside it is always a good idea to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the Sun’s brightness.
4. Be careful when touching metal or glass outside.
Have you ever gotten in a car and touched the metal buckle on the seat belt? Ouch! That’s hot! An empty drinking glass can also become quite warm so be careful if it has been sitting out in the sun for a long time.
* Sid Seagull and the Slip Slop Slap message are the property of The Cancer Council of Australia.
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