Pulse en una miniatura para ir a Google Books.
Cargando... How Did We Find Out About Solar Power? (How Did We Find Out--Series)por Isaac Asimov
Cargando...
Inscríbete en LibraryThing para averiguar si este libro te gustará. Actualmente no hay Conversaciones sobre este libro. sin reseñas | añadir una reseña
Pertenece a las series
Describes the uses of the sun's energy from the time of the Greeks and Romans to the present day and discusses the potential of this source of energy in our modern world. No se han encontrado descripciones de biblioteca. |
Debates activosNinguno
Google Books — Cargando... GénerosSistema Decimal Melvil (DDC)333.79Social sciences Economics Economics of land & energy Land, recreational and wilderness areas, energy EnergyClasificación de la Biblioteca del CongresoValoraciónPromedio:
¿Eres tú?Conviértete en un Autor de LibraryThing. |
Detailed Review:
1. Sunlight
The nature of light and sunlight. The greenhouse effect as it relates to actual houses and greenhouses.
2. Mirrors and Hotboxes
Mirrors can concentrate the rays of the sun and start fires, especially if they are parabolic. A hotbox is a very effective greenhouse which can be use to cook your food or even to run a steam engine.
3. Hot Water
Hot water is good stuff but hard to come by. In the early 1900s, solar water heaters for the home were quite the thing, but they were superseded because of the convenience of other means of heating water.
4. Nuclear Power and Oil
High hopes for nuclear power and convenience of oil reduced interest in solar power during the early and mid 1900s.
5. Solar Cells
In 1873 it is discovered that selenium conducts electricity when exposed to light, i.e., it can convert light into electricity. It is inefficient, though, only 1%. This is enough to power electric eyes that cause doors to be automatically opened for people. Silicon also turned out to be photoelectric and could be improved up to about 16%. This made them worthwhile in applications like space stations, and those signs at the side of the road. But for non-niche applications, solar power is still pretty expensive (note that this book was published in 1981, and things do seem to have changed).
6. Deserts and Space
This is the chapter about the future, in which Asimov makes good arguments for a solar power station in space and David Wool provides some pretty good illustrations. ( )