文字版 這一章的文字版——用於無障礙、螢幕閱讀器和搜尋。

On another evening of power outages, Kyanite, Hawk, Lucky and Darzk see their small town struggle with unreliable electricity and expensive bills, and agree to look for a better way. Late that night in Kyanite's workshop, Lucky's box of old gadgets reveals a mystery: a calculator that never needed batteries.

第 1 頁

Top: A caption reads, “Another evening, another power outage. In this small town, unreliable electricity had become a familiar problem.” Kyanite says, “The power is out again! How are people supposed to finish their work?” Lucky says, “The stores are struggling, and even the community center cannot hold its evening activities.” Darzk says, “And when the electricity does return, the bills are still expensive!” Bottom left: A caption reads, “The town needed a solution that could reduce its dependence on conventional electricity and provide reliable power when needed.” A notice reads, “EVENING PROGRAM POSTPONED” and “Due to the power outage.” The community member says, “There must be a better way to supply electricity.” Hawk says, “We should investigate renewable energy sources instead of guessing.” Hawk says, “If we find a practical solution, we can ask the community to help.” Darzk says, “Just make sure it is something that actually works.” Bottom right: A caption reads, “That night, Lucky’s box of old gadgets held a mystery.” Lucky says, “I gathered these from our neighbors. My grandfather’s calculator never needed batteries!” Kyanite says, “No batteries? Then where does its energy come from?” Darzk says, “Probably it is just broken, or a trick.” Hawk says, “That is worth investigating.” Lucky says, “We will test it at sunrise.”

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Outside the community center, Kyanite, Lucky, and Darzk examine two calculators on a table as Hawk watches. Kyanite: “Look! The moment sunlight touches this dark strip, the display turns on!” Lucky: “Uncover it!” Darzk: “Coincidence. Let me cover it... It went blank.” Darzk: “It is back. So the light is doing something.” Hawk: “The light itself must be supplying the energy!” Kyanite: “Then sunlight can become electricity!” Caption: “Sunlight transfers energy to charge carriers in photovoltaic cells, allowing electrical current to flow through an external circuit.” Diagram labels: “Sunlight”; “Photovoltaic cells”; “Electrical current”; “DC electricity.” Darzk: “That dark strip is a photovoltaic cell. When sunlight reaches it, it can free charge carriers and create an electric current.” Kyanite: “And the electricity it produces is direct current, or DC!” Kyanite: “Right. We need additional equipment to make it suitable for most household and building appliances.” Darzk: “Now that is the kind of explanation I wanted.” Kyanite: “More cells, more power. A solar panel is many cells working together!” Hawk: “The inverter converts DC into AC electricity.” Diagram labels: “Sunlight”; “Solar panels”; “DC electricity”; “Inverter”; “AC electricity”; “Building”; “(optional).” Hawk: “And if we include a properly designed battery system, we may also store energy for later.” Darzk: “That sounds more useful. But what happens when the sun goes down?” Hawk: “We need to design the system around the building’s actual energy needs.”

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Top: Darzk: “What happens on cloudy days or at night? And will the system still work during a power outage?” Hawk: “Solar panels usually generate less electricity when sunlight is weaker, and they do not generate solar electricity at night.” Kyanite: “We could store some extra energy in batteries when enough electricity is available.” Lucky: “Yes. A properly sized battery system can supply stored energy later. We also need the correct equipment and controls if we want backup power during an outage.” Darzk: “So we need a complete system, not just panels on the roof.” Kyanite: “Exactly!” Bottom left: “Before installation, the team discussed the proposal with the community and sought professional advice.” Lucky: “If we work together, we can help our community explore cleaner energy!” Kyanite: “We want to reduce the center’s dependence on conventional electricity and make better use of available sunlight.” Darzk: “What about installation costs, roof safety, and maintenance?” Poster: “A Cleaner, Smarter Energy Future.” Diagram labels: “Inverter”; “Building electrical panel”; “Optional battery storage.” Hawk: “Those must be assessed before we make a final decision. A qualified professional can evaluate the site and recommend a suitable system.” Community member: “Let’s review the proposal and see how we can support it!” Bottom right: Hawk: “The system must match the center’s expected electricity use and the amount of sunlight available.” Lucky: “We have the community’s support and a plan for the installation!” Darzk: “I still want to see the results, but now I understand why proper planning matters.” Kyanite: “Then let’s take the next step toward a brighter tomorrow!” Plan title: “Solar System Plan.” Labels: “Rooftop solar panels”; “Inverter”; “Building electrical panel”; “Optional battery storage”; “Professional installation & safety inspection.”