How Does Light Intensity Affect Amount Of
Electricity Produced By Solar Panels?
Project by: SHREEKANTH
Class: 10BB
Solar panels convert light into electricity
but how is light intensity related to its
electricity production?
Solar panels are made from smaller units
called solar cells. Most solar cell are made
by a semi-conductor called silicone (the
second most abundant element on earth).
A solar cell is made by keeping a silicon
layer sandwiched in between conductive
materials. The silicone layer is made up of
two different types of layers a N type
silicone and a P type silicone. The N type
layer has extra electrons while the p type
silicone has extra spaces where electrons
can fill them. These spaces are called
holes.
The point between the two types of
silicone is called the p/n junction where
electrons can freely move across. This
makes the N type layer negative and the P
type layer positive. When light strikes the
N type silicone with enough energy
photons present in it knock of an electron
from the n type silicone and this leaves a
delocalized electron and a hole, the
delocalized electron naturally moves
towards the n side while the hole is driven
to the p side. The delocalized electrons
then flow through a conductive material
and through wires. The wire is connected
to either a battery where energy is stored
or to a electric device such as a light bulb
to use the electricity. The electron then
returns to the solar panel via aluminum
sheet at its back and returns to the p side
of the solar panel and attach with a hole.
The cycle then repeats.
When increasing light intensity more
photons are present and so more photons
are likely to displace electrons from its
place and so creating more electricity. To
see if this is true we can conduct a simple
experiment to find out.
THE EXPERIMENT
Controlled variable: Type of solar
panel, Temperature, Size of solar panel,
Type of light source
Independent variable: Light intensity
(Changed by increasing or changing
distance between light source and solar
panel)
Dependent variable: Amount of
electricity produced (Measured in volts)
Apparatus:
 Solar panel
 Voltmeter
 Meter stick
 Clamp stand
 Light source (Better if battery
operated)
Setup:
Take the solar panel attach it to the clamp
stand. Next connect the wires of the solar
panel to the voltmeter. After that take the
meter stick and place it so that the start
point is exactly under the solar panel.
Finally take the light source and place it
some distance away form the solar panel
like 10 cm. Make sure our using the same
type and size of solar panel and keep the
light source the same.
Experiment:
Now your setup is ready you can start the
experiment. Switch on the light source and
measure the reading on the voltmeter.
Next move to light source another 10cm
away from the light source again and
measure the reading on the voltmeter and
repeat the procedures until you reach the
end of the meter stick
Analysis:
Record all results on a table and draw a
suitable graph with light source distance
on the y-axis and voltmeter reading on the
x-axis.
Conclusion:
A positive result would be a downward
sloping line on the graph. This tells us that
as the light source is moved further away
from the solar panel (light intensity
decreases) less electricity is produced by
the solar panel. I other words amount of
electricity produced and light intensity is
directly proportional:
Electricity produced ∝ light intensity