Sunlight and Solar Cells

This activity studies how change in the amount of sunlight available per day affects the electromotive force of a solar cell, with a view to understanding the characteristics of power generation by a solar cell.

Theory

Solar cells have been receiving a great deal of attention in recent years as one source of renewable, environmentally-friendly energy. One problem with solar cells, however, is the fact that the amount of power that can be generated is unstable, because the quantity of sunlight hitting the solar cell panel surface is affected by weather and other factors. In order to maximize power generation efficiency, it is necessary to design a system that is able to change the orientation of the solar cell panel to suit changes in the angle of the sun due to the rotation and revolution of the Earth, and seasonal changes. The diagram below shows the optimum orientation of a solar cell panel in relation to the sun.

1Sun

2Morning

3Afternoon

4Evening

5Solar Cell Panel Surface

6Magnetic Compass

θ(°): Angle of Inclination

In spite of the above, most solar cell panels are pointed in a fixed direction, because it costs too much to be continually changing their orientation. With this activity, we will investigate the correlation between the amount of sunlight per day picked up by a fixed solar cell panel and the electromotive force of a solar cell.

2-14-1

English

Activity:tivity: SetupSetup

￿Equipment

Solar Cell Panel (Operating Voltage: 5V max.) Magnetic Compass

Rain CoverWood Block

Voltage Measurement Setup (EA-200, graphic scientific calculator, data communication cable, voltage probe)

Optical Measurement Setup (EA-200, graphic scientific calculator, data communication cable, optical probe)

￿Preliminary Setup

uStanding in a location that is exposed to sunlight, hold the equipment in your hands and point the solar cell panel and optical probe towards the sun.

1 Solar Cell Panel

2 Voltage Probe (CH1)

3 Optical Probe (CH2)

4EA-200

￿Setting Up

uFix the optical probe and solar cell panel so they are pointing in the direction and at the angle you determined during the preliminary measurement.

1Sun

2Solar Cell Panel

3Voltage Probe

4Optical Probe

5Angle adjustment block

6Transparent Rain Cover

7CH1

8CH2

9EA-200

20020601