Science Of How Solar Panels Work

Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology.

Science of how solar panels work.

Solar panels generate electrical current by exploiting a phenomenon first described more than a century ago by a french physicist. Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly. Researchers soon discovered that this property called the photoelectric effect could be harnessed. Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity.

In 1839 henri becquerel noted that silver and platinum electrodes. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. In fact a solar panel is comprised of an array of smaller units called photovoltaic cells which are the. Solar panels generate electricity when photons knock electrons off from the material.

Step by step overview. Solar pv panels are comprised of many small photovoltaic cells photovoltaic meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. In 1839 french scientist edmond becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off sparks of electricity when struck with sunlight.