How do Solar Panels gather energy? Please explain in detail.?
Question:
Answer:
Converting Photons to Electrons
The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame). Photovoltaics, as the word implies (photo = light, voltaic = electricity), convert sunlight directly into electricity. Once used almost exclusively in space, photovoltaics are used more and more in less exotic ways. They could even power your house. How do these devices work?
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also all have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally. For example, the current can power a calculator. This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.
search the web, lazy
Solar comes from the latin word for electricity so the answer is from an extension cord.
Solar panels are made up of solar cells. Solar cells are photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame). Photovoltaics, as the word implies (photo = light, voltaic = electricity), convert sunlight directly into Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also all have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally.This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.There's a lot more to it than that but basically that's how it is done.Most of this is quoted from the link provided below.
There's water flowing through the panels in tubing painted black, which absorbs heat. The heated water is stored inside an insulated tank inside the house, Presto! You have hot water all night long when you need it, either in the shower or in radiant heaters in the walls. There are also solar-ELECTRIC panels, but other people had already talked abut them. Solar THERMAL water heaters are the simplest and most cost effective ones to make. Double check what I have said before you give out the ten points, please!
skifbisket is wrong, but I think he knew that. Everyone else so far is at least partially correct. There are 2 types of solar panels, photovoltaic and photo-thermal. Both have been discussed already.
BY THE SUN
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