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Solar Energy Multiple Choice Questions on “Solar Passive Space – Heating and Cooling Systems”.
1. What is solar heating and cooling?
a) Use solar energy to regulate the internal temperature of a given space
b) Use solar energy to regulate the temperature of environment
c) Use solar energy to monotonically increase the internal temperature of a given space
d) Use solar energy to monotonically decrease the temperature of a given space
Answer: a
Clarification: Passive solar heating and cooling, also called as passive solar design uses solar energy to regulate the internal temperature of a given space. The space is essentially some kind of closed/isolated area.
2. Which of the following is used to regulate temperature in solar heating and cooling system?
a) Air conditioners
b) Specific building systems
c) Water heaters
d) Room heaters
Answer: b
Clarification: Building systems designed specifically for a solar heating and cooling system is used to regulate the temperature of a given space. It could be done with the help of temperature controlling systems like an air conditioner embedded into the building.
3. Which of the following is not used in a passive solar heating/cooling system?
a) Building walls
b) Building roofs
c) Air conditioners
d) Building floors
Answer: c
Clarification: Air conditioners are not used in a passive solar heating and cooling system. This is simply because the system is passive. Wall, floors and roofs are included in a passive system?
4. What is a passive solar heating and cooling system?
a) Uses building design with mechanical systems to regulate the temperature outside a given space
b) Uses building design with mechanical systems to monotonically increase the temperature inside a given space
c) Uses building design without any solar heating (and cooling) system to regulate the temperature outside a given space
d) Uses building design without any solar heating (and cooling) system to regulate the temperature inside a given space
Answer: d
Clarification: As the name suggests, a passive solar heating and cooling system does not use any kind of active system. Instead, it uses building design without any solar heating (and cooling) system to regulate the temperature inside a given space.
5. Which of the following is extremely important with respect to a passive solar heating and cooling system?
a) Materials used to construct the building
b) Electrical systems used to perform heating/cooling operation
c) Mechanical systems used to perform heating/cooling operation
d) Material used to build heating/cooling systems
Answer: a
Clarification: A passive solar heating and cooling system does not consist of any active element. Hence, materials used to construct the building plays a major role in regulating the amount of heat trapped within the room.
6. Which of the following is an example of passive solar technology?
a) Photovoltaic
b) Solar furnace
c) Active solar water heating systems
d) Solar thermo-mechanical systems
Answer: b
Clarification: Solar furnace is a well known example of passive solar technology. It uses concentrated solar power to generate high temperatures for industrial purposes. Active solar water heating systems and solar thermo-mechanical systems are active systems.
7. What is a sunroom?
a) A room with a sun fitted inside it
b) A room that does not allow sunlight to pass through it
c) A room that transmits a lot of sunlight and has a scenic view
d) A room that does not pass sunlight and has a scenic view
Answer: c
Clarification: A sunroom, also known as a solarium is a room that permits a lot of sunlight through it. It also has a beautiful scenic view for recreational purposes. This is an example of a passive solar technology.
8. Which of the following process is involved in heat transfer through building?
a) Seebeck effect
b) Peltier effect
c) Hall effect
d) Conduction
Answer: d
Clarification: Heat transfer in buildings occurs through conduction, convection and radiation. Seebeck effect and Peltier effect are about an electric potential difference due to thermal gradient and Hall effect are not related to heat transfer.
9. Which part of a house receives majority of solar radiation?
a) Roof
b) Side walls
c) Floor
d) Doors
Answer: a
Clarification: When compared to side walls, floor and doors, roofs receive majority of solar radiation. The heat from sun flows into the building mainly through radiation and supported by convection and conduction.
10. Which of the following is a site-specific design consideration for a passive solar heating and cooling system?
a) Orientation of the building
b) Latitude
c) Building window size
d) Placement of rooms
Answer: b
Clarification: Site specific design considerations are dependent on the location of the site. Hence, latitude, sun path and insolation are some examples of site-specific design considerations.
11. Which of the following is a design element for residential buildings in temperate and tropical climates?
a) Latitude
b) Diurnal variations in temperature
c) Using thermal mass to store excess solar energy during winter
d) Obstacles
Answer: c
Clarification: Using thermal mass to store excess solar energy during winter is a design element for residential buildings in temperate and tropical climates. Thermal mass is a property of the mass of a building to store heat. Latitude, obstacles and diurnal variations in temperature are site-specific design considerations.
12. A building with excessive glass cover ______
a) results in freezing
b) results in a pleasant temperature within the building
c) damages the building material
d) results in overheating
Answer: d
Clarification: A building with excessive glass cover results in overheating. This is basically due to trapping of heat within the building and is explained by greenhouse effect. It will not result in freezing.
13. A solar roof constructed on a building uses water stored ______ to temper hot and cold internal temperatures of the building.
a) on building roofs
b) on building walls
c) beneath building floors
d) on an auxiliary building
Answer: a
Clarification: A solar roof constructed on a building uses water stored on building roofs to temper hot and cold internal temperatures of the building. It is also called as roof pond passive solar heating system and is usually deployed in desert environments.
14. A “cool roof” uses reflective surfaces.
a) False
b) True
Answer: a
Clarification: A “cool roof” uses reflective surfaces. This is to ensure that major amount of the incident solar radiation is reflected back and the temperature within the building is maintained. Green roof is another variation that uses vegetation instead of reflective surfaces.