SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE OF

CABUYAO
Mamatid, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

SCIENCE INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

SOLAR POWERED BOTTLE BULB

SUBMITTED BY:
DE TORRES, KELVIN D.
LAJOM, RHEA MAE H.
LLIDO, LENNY ROSE
NEPOMUCENO, ADRIAN V.

SUBMITTED TO:
Prof. Leodigario Mendoza MAED

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The electricity is the worlds common source of made light. The
movement of electrons can produce an energy which is called the
electricity.There are many types or ways to receive electricity and one of it is
thru solar energy.Nowadays and in the last two decades, people take
advantages of the use of suns light and its energy to build or install solar
products. Solar products are more beneficial to the earth; it is very good for
the environment and can save you money in the long run. Solar products can
be used in many different ways such as solar panels, photovoltaic systems,
solar water heaters, etc. In Manila, Philippines, electricity and solar energy
was both put to use in making a solar bottle as an improvise bulb. These solar
POWERED bottle bulbs are starting to become a popular installation. Since
the houses in places in the Philippines are located so close together, they
have no windows or natural light.
The solar powered bottle bulb is made out of a used plastic soda bottle
or water bottle, which is filled with water and liquid bleach. The bottle is then
fixed into a hole in the roof. While light streaming through just the hole would
come in through a single, straight, narrow light beam, the water in the solar
bottle bulb refracts the light so that it can illuminate a larger space, 360
degrees around. The bleach keeps the water clean by preventing algae from

forming. The solar powered bottle bulb gives off 55 to 60 watts of clear light,
and lasts up to 10 months. This innovative light bulb provides low-income
manila households with light - while traditional windows can easily crack or
leak during typhoon season or other severe weather, the solar bottle bulb
brings even more light in and helps save money and energy. Not only do the
bulbs improve the lives of families, but they also improve the future and health
of the environment by significantly reducing plastic waste.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The proponents conducted this study to improve their creativity, and
logical thinking, and to make use of the resources that are available. In
addition, the researchers chose this study out of interest in making an
effective alternative light bulb provided that there is enough sunlight.
The proponents of this study would like to answer the following
question: (a) Will this solar powered bottle bulb is effective in terms of light
provision? (b) Will this solar poweredbottle bulb be effective in lessening the
electrical consumption? (c) Is this solar powered bulb can be an effective and
efficient improvise bulb for home.

HYPOTHESIS
If the proponents build a solar powered bottle bulb and compare the
brightness to a regular bulb, then the solar powered bottle bulb will be brighter
at times when the sun is out because the sun is brighter than a regular light
bulb. This solar powered bottle bulb can help people to lessen their electricity
bills or can help reduce consumption of energy.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study focuses on only two aspects. One of the aspects covered in
this study is the effectiveness of the alternative light bulb in terms of light
provision. Furthermore, the electrical energy saving consumption is also the
other aspect being covered in this study.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The beneficiaries for this study are those who desire to save electrical
energy consumption by using this alternative light bulb. For those who have
no source of energy in their houses. Occupants of cramp places such as
squatter areas are to benefit most from this study. Due to the fact that light is
not much able to pass in squatter areas, since there is little gap between
houses, places like those are dark. The product enables the sunlight that hits
it to be spread in a dim or dark room. Therefore provides light to people in
areas such as the fore mentioned places. Government can be also one of the

beneficiaries of this study because this can help them to have an outreach
program for less fortunate people. This study can also help future
researchers, students and investigators.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Electricity-is the presence and flow of electric charge. Its best-known form
is the flow of electrons through conductors such as copper wires. Electricity is
a form of energy that comes in positive and negative forms, that occur
naturally (as in lightning), or is produced (as in a generator).
2. Solar power- is the conversion of sunlight intoelectricity, either directly
using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power.
3. Electrons-can be bound to the nucleus of an atom by the attractive
Coulomb force. A system of one or moreelectrons bound to a nucleus is
called an atom. If the number of electrons is different from the nucleus'
electrical charge, such an atom is called an ion.
4. Photovoltaic systems-also solar PV power system, orPV system, is a
power system designed

to

supply

usable

solar

power

by

means

of photovoltaics.
5. Solar panels- refer to a panel designed to absorb the sun's rays as a
source of energy for generating electricity or heating.

6. Solar water heaters-(SWH) are the conversion of sunlight into renewable

energy for water heating using a solar thermal collector. Solar water heating
systems comprise various technologies that are used worldwide increasingly.
7. Cramp places-Uncomfortably small or restricted.

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The researchers wanted to do a project from solar and compare the
difference between solar and regular electricity. In this project, researchers
are going to test a regular lightbulb and a solar powered bottle bulb. It will be
compare and see whether a regular lightbulb or a solar powered bottle bulb is
brighter, at the different times of day. Finding the average brightness of the
solar bottle bulb and compare the results to the regular light bulb will be done.
The proponents wanted to compare the two because solar energy can be
very useful and can save people a lot of money.
When people think of a light bulb they usually think of light, but how is
that energy emitted to produce an illuminant glow? The answer to that would
be the use of electricity. It is quite difficult to imagine life today without
electricity by looking around at everyday things like computers, phones, TVs,
refrigerators, etc, it shows that as the use of technology rises, the necessity of
electricity is also needed. Practically everything that plugs into an outlet,
powered by a generator, or consumes batteries and will use some source of
electricity.

Electricity is a form of energy that is produced by the movement of

electrons (negative charge). There are two kinds of electricity: static and
current. Static electricity is the buildup of electrons that stay in place until it
jumps into an object (Electricity Facts). Static electricity was first described
by a Greek philosopher name Thales when he rubbed pieces of amber
together to create a charge (Collier 12, 97). An example of static electricity is
the feeling you get after you drag your feet on a carpet or rug and touch an
object. That sense of zap is static electricity at work. The second kind would
be current electricity. Current electricity is the stable flow of electrons,
between places or objects. An example of this type of electricity is the power
that functions daily appliances and devices. There are two types of currents:
alternating and direct current. A direct current (DC) is when the electrons only
flow in one direction. The second current is an alternating current (AC) which
means it can switch directions, flowing in one direction and then in another
(Marcus 46-47).
There are three electrical measurements amp, volts, watts, and ohms.
An amp which is short for amperes is the base unit of a currents strength or
rate of flow (Fowler 16). It indicates how many electrons flow past a certain
point in a circuit in a specific length of time (Chevat 16).

Volts are a unit to indicate the force that drives an electrical current
(Collier 95). Watts is the unit of electric power (Marcus 49). And lastly, ohms
indicate the resistance to electron flow in the circuit (Chevat 16).
Although there are many things that use electricity,, the source of
electricity was not invented. There was a well-known man by the name of
Benjamin Franklin. He contributed to discovering electricity and its functions.
Franklin was known for his daring experiments with electricity, especially the
famous one, using a kite and a key (Collier 32, 33). But Ben Franklin was not
the only one who experimented with electricity. Thomas Edison also dealt with
electricity and is well known for inventing the light bulb. Though Edison
received most of the credit for the electric light bulb there was a man name
Joseph Swan who built an incandescent light bulb that only stayed lit for a few
minutes (66,69) (Mullins 14,15).
One of the most essential systems people use would be the lighting
system, which was built by Thomas Alva Edison. Edison was known for his
many inventions such as the phonograph, motion picture camera, and most of
all the light bulb (Matthews 32-39). His invention of the light bulb was and still
is one of the most useful fixtures. Edison had to overcome three challenges in
producing this incandescent lamp. First, he had to find a lasting filament. In
1877, he began to work on this problem he had tested on hundreds of

different materials in search for that lasting filament. He tested on metals,

paper, wood, and even leaves.
Then is 1879, he finally produced a light bulb with carbonized thread
filament that burned for forty-five hours till it burned out (Collier 67). Second,
he needed to make a vacuum inside the bulb that removed as much air as
possible. Lastly, he has to design an electric distribution (Matthews 41).
One way a bulb can be measured is by a lux meter. A lux meter is a
special invented product that is able to measure the brightness of the bulb.
Lux meter especially measures the intensity of brightness that the human eye
can detect. Lux is the unit that measures the brightness also luminance. Lux
meters use photocells that attract light, and converts it into an electrical
current. After the electrical current is obtained, the lux meter evaluates the
value based on the electrical indications (Lux Meter).
Since the demand of electricity is rising, the prices have also
increased. There must be a cheaper or more practical way to produce lighting
in houses. A produce that produces light without electricity and uses natural
sources would be very useful. An example would be a solar bulb. The word
solar comes from the Latin word sol, meaning sun (Knight 7). Solar energy
is caused by a small amount of matter... into a large amount of energy,
called a nuclear reaction (8). When the heat and light from the sun hits the
solar mirror that regulates the heat to the liquid, it then heats the liquid and

turns to steam (Armentrout 14). That steam is then turned into usable
electricity. Solar is another beneficial source of energy that creates no
greenhouse-gas emissions, which is good because it does not trap the heat
of the earth. Since the sun has a large quantity of matter, it is always
releasing energy and virtually limitless (Ruschmann 72)
Energy and power is the two ways to characterize the spread of the
sun and its measurements. Energy is what the sun releases, that energy that
hits the earth is solar energy. The progression of the generating of the solar
energy is power. Kilowatts are the unit generally used to measure the
generation of solar energy. The sun continually produces an estimated 390
sextillion (390 followed by 21 zeros) kilowatt hours of energy (Knight 9).
Since the sun is a sphere, the energy goes in many different ways. Only a
partial amount of energy reaches the earth and the upper part of the
atmosphere gets the suns entire energy being produced.
For years, have people known about solar energy. Pliny the Younger, a
writer who had lived around A.D. 100, had constructed a home, located in
Northern Italy, to live in during the summer (Sklar and Sheinkopf 7). He had
used pieces of mica or selenite for windows and glass to prevent the cold air
to come in the heated room, it had later been known as sunrooms (8).
After him, people had tried making sunrooms and later the ideas had
come to the United States. The history of the solar energy industry in the

United Stated can be traced back to the work of an engineer in the early
1800s, John Ericsson, who generally is credited as being the first American
solar scientist (9).
Only recently, in the last two decades, have many people taken
advantage of the sun's light and energy to build or instal solar products (Sklar
and Sheinkopf 7). Solar products are more beneficial to the earth and can
save you money in the long run. It has been estimated that 1,000 times more
energy reaches the earth's surface from the sun every single year than
could be produced by burning all the fossil fuels mined and extracted during
the same year (1). Solar products include a variety of options like solar
panels, photovoltaic systems, solar water heaters, etc.
Although they are better for the planet, it can be quite expensive to
install and are dependent on many factors. Because the solar energy is
distributed through the earth, gathering a certain amount of sunlight for a job
can be hard to do. The weather and season affects the amount of energy that
is given to a certain area. If there is more sunlight, the tool will be more
effective. Furthermore, the amount of solar energy received varies because
of the changes in the earth's orbit and the tilt of its spin axis (Knight 28). The
average progression of the light reaching each square foot of the earths
surface is only about twenty watts. The energy that is not used is consumed
into the air or the ground...

A person all over the world has tried going green and installing solar
products. There are many different ways you could use the suns solar
energy. From photovoltaic systems to solar powered cars and even solar
bottle bulbs, many people are using and installing them every day.
There are more than one-quarter million solar homes in the United
States (Egendorf 108). In Manila, Philippines, solar bottle bulbs are starting
to become a popular installation. Since the houses are located so close
together, they have no windows or natural light (Plastic Bottles Light Up
Lives). A solar bottle bulb gives them light from the sun that shines luminously
in their homes. Fixed into holes in a corrugated iron roof, the bulb is a
recycled plastic bottle that contains bleached water. Bringing more light than a
traditional window that can crack or leak during typhoon season, the bottle
bulbs refract the sun rays to create 55-watts worth of light. By using
electricity, many of them cannot afford to pay the bill and at often times will
need to do things in the dark. So using the solar bottle bulbs, it can save them
$6 a month and is a cheap and safe way for them to have light at most times
of the day (Oshima).

CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
The researchers will use the experimental method to validate data for this
study. Cherry (2011) defined experimental method of research as the
manipulation of a variable to determine whether it affects other variables. It
relies

on

controlled

methods

and

pure

START

Prepare the materials:

PET soda bottle
Galvanized Iron (GI) sheet
Epoxy/Rubber sealant
Bleach
Filtered Water
1st: Cutapproximately9 x 10 inchesof

GI sheet(corrugated or flat,
depending on the roof where Solar
Bottle Bulb will be installed)
Recommended GI sheet: 0.06 gauge

2nd: At the center of the GI sheet, draw

2 circles (outer: similar to the

circumference of the soda bottle;
inner: 1cm smaller).
Cut the inner,
A smaller circle.

Using sandpaper,
54thth:: rd
Insert
the bottle scratch
into thethe
GI
3
:
Cut
the
1
cm
difference
surface around the upper third

sheet
until the upper third. Apply
th
6portion
: Fill
the
PET
bottle
with
filtered
radially,
making
strips
and
of the
PET
where
the
rubber sealant
on bottle
the strips
above
water
and
~10
mL
(2 to
capfuls)
of
bend
upwards,
perpendicular
GI
sheet
willthe
be area
placed,
allow
the
and
around
Wait
to
ENDbelow.
bleach.
with
its original
cap.
torubber
the
GIsealant
sheet.
epoxyCover
or
to stick
dry.

manipulation.

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSSION

Solar Bottle Lamps: Water + Bleach = 10,000 Liters of Light.

People take for granted our electric lights, windows and

skylights to access the suns glow, but for those living in close-together
shacks with corrugated-metal roofs, a stray ray is welcome, and something
that can spread light to the darkest interior corners can be a dream
come true.
Sunrays are everywhere. So, solar bulb installation is very
easy for it requires one solution which is very easy and no costly. Fill one liter
bottle with prepared solution and install it on the roof of houses OR slums OR

industries. When the sunrays fall on the bottle, it will automatically glow and
generate 40-60 Watt electricity and it will last long for maximum 5years.
Sun is the infinite source of light. Sunrays are everywhere. It
falls in one direction in air medium. But suppose we take one glass medium
and sunrays fall on it then some of it passes through it is called as
REFRACTION and some of it strikes on the glass and goes in opposite
direction is called as REFLECTION .

CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In Summary, It is a simple bottle bulb, usually a 1 liter soda bottle

that is filled with a solution of purified water and bleach. The bottle is
inserted halfway through a hole drilled in the metal roof and its sides
are sealed. The whole deal looks like a bulb through a sunroof and
provides a good amount of light by deflecting sunlight into gloomy
interiors.
The chlorine and bleach poisons the water to keep molds from
developing so the solution can last up to five years. The clear and
purified water helps disperse the light through refraction, so the light is
not concentrated. It only costs $1-2 or its 48php-160php around to
make a solar bottle bulb that is bringing light to dark homes.
CONCLUSION
The solar bulb is an innovative solution to the problem of lighting
houses and provides a simple demonstration of physics which will help
motivate students to engage with the topic. It also provides an excellent
opportunity for interdisciplinary work. Throughout the experiments, the
children practice teamwork and the allocation of responsibilities, thus

enhancing their social skills. Apart from the content focus, the lessons
emphasis could also be placed on the scientific method by introducing test
protocols, which will be beneficial for future work in other natural sciencesubjects. The approach of including the solar bottle bulb into teaching has
already been implemented in many schools as part of projects on light or
alternative energy, so your pupils should be given the chance to experience
light refraction from a practical point of view as well.

RECOMMENDATION
Different sizes and arrangements of solar bottle bulbs might greatly
affect the lighting delivered and there is no general agreement on the best
interior bottle exposure levels. This study was undertaken to examine the
lighting performance of three prototype solar bottle bulbs and to compare their
performance at three different interior bottle exposure levels: one-third, half
and two-thirds. A solar bottle bulb made of one 1.5 litre bottle proved to be
better than a solar bottle bulb made of three 0.5 litre bottles. In terms of
interior bottle exposure levels, the half level performed the best. Researchers
recommend this project for areas that do not have source of electricity. Some
inexplicable phenomena were also observed with recommendations for
further study.