Solar panel

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/solar-panel

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the category?Photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion device
2. What is the applications?Residential, commercial, industrial, utility-scale power generation, and extraterrestrial spacecraft
3. How does a solar panel make electricity?When sunlight hits the silicon cells, it knocks electrons loose, and an electric field inside the cell pushes them through a wire, making a current. The panel connects many cells together so they can produce enough power for homes.
4. Why are solar panels good for the planet?Solar panels use clean, endless sunshine instead of burning fossil fuels, so they keep the air cleaner and help stop climate change. They also let people make their own power on rooftops, which saves energy that would travel long distances.

Photovoltaic Effect: The phenomenon where light energy striking a semiconductor material generates an electric current.
Semiconductor: A material, like silicon, that conducts electricity better than an insulator but not as well as a conductor.
Irradiance: The measure of solar power received per unit area, typically measured in watts per square meter.