| On our earth solar power is a source of primary | | | | can be free to flow. The current then is an electric field |
| energy and this form of energy is one which has been | | | | and the free electrons flow in that direction. Contacts |
| used forever and an example is hanging the clothes to | | | | of metal have to be put in place on the bottom and |
| dry outside as being one of the times that we use the | | | | top of the solar cells to draw this current for use |
| energy from the sun. Food generated in plants comes | | | | externally. The cell made from silicon known as the |
| from the solar light and then the animals eat the food. | | | | single-crystal is one solar cell to consider. |
| Solar power of all the energy sources is the cleanest | | | | Properties of different chemicals are in silicon in the |
| and nearly all the earth's natural processes come from | | | | form of crystalline. There are 14 electrons in one atom |
| this source. The sunlight is collected and then it is | | | | of silicon and they are set in shells of 3 varieties. Two |
| converted into electricity so this is called solar power. | | | | shells being the inner ones are joined to the nucleus |
| How is solar energy generated? | | | | and then are full as the outer shell has 4 electrons. |
| Explosions happen called thermonuclear when helium | | | | Then there is an outer shell which is short 4 electrons |
| atoms and hydrogen atoms are fused together and | | | | and the silicon atom will be looking for ways to fill up |
| then huge bursts of energy are released. Some of this | | | | that last shell. To complete the outer shell the 4 |
| results in radiation which is a free energy source for | | | | electrons will be shared with the near silicon atoms and |
| the solar panels which are homemade. Electrical | | | | this process forms a crystalline. This explains crystalline |
| energy comes when these solar panels are converting | | | | silicon but pure crystalline silicon is such a poor |
| this form of radiation which then can be stored in a | | | | conductor as all the electrons are locked in. |
| battery form to be used later on. | | | | In order to have the solar cells conduct more there are |
| Two ways to generate power | | | | some impurities put into the silicon in order for the solar |
| 1. Direct-Using solar or photovoltaic cells PV the sunlight | | | | cells to work properly so these impurities help in this |
| will be converted into electricity directly. | | | | process. An atom of silicon has 5 electrons in its shell |
| 2. Indirect-Boiling water is an indirect way to use the | | | | which is the outer one. Phosphorous is free and there |
| suns energy so that the steam that is made moves | | | | is 1 electron in phosphorous so that when the silicon |
| the turbines and then these are used for indirectly | | | | atom bonds with its neighbors the phosphorous is then |
| providing power in CSP concentrating solar power. | | | | freed. When the heat or energy is also added to this |
| Uses of solar power | | | | most of these electrons will then go free too so then |
| Hand held calculators electronic equipment emergency | | | | there are many free carriers produced. This process |
| road signs buoys remote solar-powered sensors and | | | | which takes place when you add impurities is named |
| also lights in a parking lot. Some boats and | | | | doping and when the doping of phosphorous into the |
| experimental vehicles are using solar powered energy | | | | silicon atom takes place then and only then will the |
| now too. One of the best is the solar panels which are | | | | silicon which we will get is then called N for negative or |
| placed outside buildings where the solar cell is | | | | N-type because of the free electrons domination |
| continuously charged during the daylight so that at night | | | | which takes place. |
| the electricity is then free so that the streets are lit and | | | | The solar cell then has this N-type but to get another |
| providing security for everyone. Satellites are using | | | | part of the silicon atom it is doped with some boron |
| solar panels where the solar cells are providing power | | | | and this has 3 electrons instead of 4 in the outer shell |
| for the electrical systems to operate on the satellites. | | | | of it in order to turn it into a P-type silicon. P is for |
| Science behind the generation of solar power | | | | positive where the other one was negative and this |
| Solar panels is what is used to generate solar power | | | | P-type actually has free holes. When you put the |
| as they have photovoltaic cells or the common name | | | | N-type and the P-type silicons together and the free |
| being solar cells and when they are arranged in a | | | | electrons from the side of N so then this requires |
| pattern on a grid surface they collect the energy. | | | | some place for the holes to fall into so the free holes |
| Silicon is one material used in solar cells and when the | | | | on the P-type side and then they rush in to fill up the |
| solar energy falls on these solar panels the energy | | | | hole. This then completes the field of electricity which in |
| generated knocks loose the electrons and then they | | | | turn makes our cells of solar power work. |