Background Information:

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electrical system that directly transforms light energy into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, a physical and chemical phenomenon. It is a type of a photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics differ when exposed to light, such as current, voltage, or resistance. Individual solar cell systems can be assembled into modules which are otherwise known as solar panels. The common single-junction silicon solar cell can generate a maximum open-circuit voltage of around 0.5 to 0.6 volts.

Solar cells are defined as photovoltaic, regardless of whether their source is sunlight or artificial light. They may be used as a photodetector (e.g. infrared detectors) in addition to generating electricity, sensing light or other electromagnetic radiation outside the visible spectrum or measuring light intensity.

Equipment:

  • One solar cell
  • One voltage probe
  • One NXT adaptor
  • NXT with light sensor
  • One visible light source
  • One infrared light source
  • Labview VI solarlab1.vi
  • Ruler
  • Excel sheet

Procedure:

Understand how the VI works, I performed two experiments to try to gain an understanding of the relationship between visible light intensity and the voltage output of the solar cell, as well as the relationship between the wavelength of light and the voltage output of the solar cell.

To change the light intensity, I should vary the distance between the solar cell and the light source.

Repeat the same experiment with the infrared light source.

Graphs the results of both experiments on the same graph.

Result:

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.2

Base on Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2 we can see that when the distance is closer the voltage we get so the more the distance is less. Yet we can see with this graph that voltage calculations are a little far from the trend line. As we can see in Figure 1.1, the highest it is up to 1.5 volts; the highest it is up to 4.5 volts for the 1.2 Figure. We can see the contrast between themselves from these maps. We can conclude the relationship between them is positive.

In Rural Bangladesh, Solar Power Dents Poverty;

Solar is more stable and safer than traditional coal, too. Idcol reports that its solar systems offset 242 tons of kerosene worth $300 million per year that would otherwise be used by the poor on electricity. In conclusion, solar power is a successful choice, rather than using a diesel generator. Solar energy is cost-effective for humans and much more efficient.

Reference

Yee, Amy. “In Rural Bangladesh, Solar Power Dents Poverty.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Oct. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/opinion/in-rural-bangladesh-solar-power-dents-poverty.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FSolar%2BEnergy&action=click&contentCollection=energy-environment®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection&_r=0.