<p>Ah, summer holidays! But often, just when we settle down to watch a movie on TV, the power goes off. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Yet another power cut! We aren’t worried though because there is so much to do under the sun – play cricket with friends, swim and ride our cycles. <br /><br />While we play in the sun, every 10 minutes a parent usually shouts down from a balcony, “Hey kids, calm down! Don’t make so much noise!” Or they yell, “Kids, play in the shade. Aren’t you getting roasted there?” I really can’t understand grown-ups!<br /><br /> “The sun is actually a wonderful source of renewable energy,” said Mona suddenly one day as though I did not know anything about solar energy. “You know, I read in a magazine recently that energy equal to 6000 times the Earth’s electricity use shines down on the Earth constantly. <br /><br />In fact, if three-tenths of one per cent of the United States, that is, 100 miles by 100 miles of land, could be covered with photovoltaic panels – yes, the panels needed to convert solar light into usable energy – they could power the entire country!”<br /><br />“Oh, three-tenths of…?” I think I did stay in the sun longer than is good for my brain! Let me try something simpler: What is three-tenths of one per cent of 100 rupees?<br /><br />Out of the maze: 30 paise. One per cent of Rs. 100 is 1 rupee. Three-tenths of a rupee, or 100 paise, is 30 paise. By the way, have you seen a 3-paisa coin?</p>
<p>Ah, summer holidays! But often, just when we settle down to watch a movie on TV, the power goes off. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Yet another power cut! We aren’t worried though because there is so much to do under the sun – play cricket with friends, swim and ride our cycles. <br /><br />While we play in the sun, every 10 minutes a parent usually shouts down from a balcony, “Hey kids, calm down! Don’t make so much noise!” Or they yell, “Kids, play in the shade. Aren’t you getting roasted there?” I really can’t understand grown-ups!<br /><br /> “The sun is actually a wonderful source of renewable energy,” said Mona suddenly one day as though I did not know anything about solar energy. “You know, I read in a magazine recently that energy equal to 6000 times the Earth’s electricity use shines down on the Earth constantly. <br /><br />In fact, if three-tenths of one per cent of the United States, that is, 100 miles by 100 miles of land, could be covered with photovoltaic panels – yes, the panels needed to convert solar light into usable energy – they could power the entire country!”<br /><br />“Oh, three-tenths of…?” I think I did stay in the sun longer than is good for my brain! Let me try something simpler: What is three-tenths of one per cent of 100 rupees?<br /><br />Out of the maze: 30 paise. One per cent of Rs. 100 is 1 rupee. Three-tenths of a rupee, or 100 paise, is 30 paise. By the way, have you seen a 3-paisa coin?</p>
