Solar Energy: The Importance of the Sun
Companies and private researchers around the world are studying the ways to make this process more efficient. In this case, we are taking a look at two layers of silicon for test study.
Q:What you should know about the sun?
Q:What is solar energy and what is the process that transforms the sunlight into an usable source of energy?
Q:How will it impact the future?
Let us answer some questions...
Q:What you should know about the sun!
A:
The sun is a spherical star located in the center of the solar system. It's gravitational pull/force (Heliosphere) produces an enormous pressure and temperature which allows all planets to rotate around it. Mostly composed of gases (charges particles ionized, called plasma) that are converted into a huge amount of energy (nuclear fusion) in the sun's core. The energy is radiated/rejected slowly from its core to its surface (outer layer) which is then release into the solar system as radiation/heat and light/charges particles. This process can takes millions of years.
The sun is composed of multiple layers (6 layers). Each layer has its unique physical properties.
Thus, in the core, hydrogen atoms fused to form helium at a temperature approximateley equal to 15 millions degree Celsius. The second layer is called Radiation zone where energy released at the sun's core will radiate. It will take almost 100,000 years for a photon (massless energy) to leave/travel this dense region and arrive in the region called Convective Zone. In the convective zone, it will take about 30 days for a photon to travel the region and enter the subsurface flows. The photon will continue its journey into the photosphere ( the surface from which the solar light is emitted or radiated) and finally arrive to chromosphere ( a layer above the photosphere). Photon will continue to travel into the corona , a layer of the sun above the chromosphere which expands into the sun's surface.
Facts: It takes sunlight an average time of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
Speed of light: 3.0E8m/s
Age: 4.57 billion years
Core temperature: 27 million degrees F or 15 million degrees Celcius
Radius: 695,500 Km
The sun is a spherical star located in the center of the solar system. It's gravitational pull/force (Heliosphere) produces an enormous pressure and temperature which allows all planets to rotate around it. Mostly composed of gases (charges particles ionized, called plasma) that are converted into a huge amount of energy (nuclear fusion) in the sun's core. The energy is radiated/rejected slowly from its core to its surface (outer layer) which is then release into the solar system as radiation/heat and light/charges particles. This process can takes millions of years.
The sun is composed of multiple layers (6 layers). Each layer has its unique physical properties.
Thus, in the core, hydrogen atoms fused to form helium at a temperature approximateley equal to 15 millions degree Celsius. The second layer is called Radiation zone where energy released at the sun's core will radiate. It will take almost 100,000 years for a photon (massless energy) to leave/travel this dense region and arrive in the region called Convective Zone. In the convective zone, it will take about 30 days for a photon to travel the region and enter the subsurface flows. The photon will continue its journey into the photosphere ( the surface from which the solar light is emitted or radiated) and finally arrive to chromosphere ( a layer above the photosphere). Photon will continue to travel into the corona , a layer of the sun above the chromosphere which expands into the sun's surface.
Facts: It takes sunlight an average time of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
Speed of light: 3.0E8m/s
Age: 4.57 billion years
Core temperature: 27 million degrees F or 15 million degrees Celcius
Radius: 695,500 Km
Surface temperature: 5,778 K
Distance to Earth: 92,960,000 miles (149,600,000 km)
Volume: 1412E21 Km
Volume: 1412E21 Km
Mass: 1.9891E30 kg
Composition(% Number of atoms)
-Hydrogen (H) 91.2%
-Helium (He) 8.7%
-Oxygen (O) 0.078%
-Carbon (C) 0.043%
-Iron (Fe) 0.030%
-Nitrogen (N) 0.0088%
-Silicon (Si) 0.0045%
-Magnesium (Mg) 0.0038%
-Neon (Ne) 0.0035 %
-Sulfur (S) 0.015%
-and 50 other elements...
-Hydrogen (H) 91.2%
-Helium (He) 8.7%
-Oxygen (O) 0.078%
-Carbon (C) 0.043%
-Iron (Fe) 0.030%
-Nitrogen (N) 0.0088%
-Silicon (Si) 0.0045%
-Magnesium (Mg) 0.0038%
-Neon (Ne) 0.0035 %
-Sulfur (S) 0.015%
-and 50 other elements...
Q:What is solar energy and what is the process that transforms the sunlight into an usable source of energy?
A:
Solar Energy is the process that transforms the sun's light into a collectible and usable energy. Looking at sun power, its energy can be used to power every home on earth, cars, streetlights, calculators, and more. It is an amazing fact!
The sun releases an energy from its core in form of electromagnetic radiation ( waves or tiny charges particles). This energy gets captured ( by solar panels) , and converted into
electricity using photo voltaic cells.
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What is a photo voltaic cells?
Photo ("light") voltaic ("electricity") is a process that converts photons into Electrons hence converts sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
What is an inverter ?
An inverter simply converts the DC (current) into an AC (current) that is used to power the entire house.
A solar panel contains two layers of silicon (on top: phosphorus-doped, on bottom: boron-doped) that allow electrons to flow and conduct electricity between them. The flow of electron is possible because of the metal conductor strips.
How to set up the cell to receive the sun light?
Note that the there is no transfer of electrons without first established an electric field.
The phosphorus-doped layer contains extra electrons (negative charge) which will be transfered to the boron-doped layer that has less electrons. After the transfer, the boron will be negatively charged the phosphorus layer will be positive.
How the electricity is generated?
When the sunlight light (photons) reach the top of layer, electrons are excited and moving freely in both silicon layers. At this point, an electric field gets established and electrons get released out of the top of the silicon layer (metal conductor strips) where electricity is being produced.
How electrons flow?
Electrons flow through wires into specific destination (house) where they are used to power electrical components and then they flow back to the cell through the cell's metal backing. This electricity produced by the cell is then absorbed/store by the silicon layer which ensure the particles of sunlight (photons) do not get reflected (anti-reflective coating) through the process. The anti-reflective coating is very important because it keeps the alternative current flowing in back and fourth.
NOTE:
The electricity generated by the solar panel can run out depending on how much the sunlight is received. However, note that your house will need to be connected to any other source of power when your not using the solar panels, the power grid. Hence you are still connected to the utility grid (convention electricity) and this will make sure that you can always use electricity in case of raining day, night, very cloudy day etc...
Q:How will it impact the future?
electricity using photo voltaic cells.
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Photo ("light") voltaic ("electricity") is a process that converts photons into Electrons hence converts sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
What is an inverter ?
An inverter simply converts the DC (current) into an AC (current) that is used to power the entire house.
A solar panel contains two layers of silicon (on top: phosphorus-doped, on bottom: boron-doped) that allow electrons to flow and conduct electricity between them. The flow of electron is possible because of the metal conductor strips.
How to set up the cell to receive the sun light?
Note that the there is no transfer of electrons without first established an electric field.
The phosphorus-doped layer contains extra electrons (negative charge) which will be transfered to the boron-doped layer that has less electrons. After the transfer, the boron will be negatively charged the phosphorus layer will be positive.
How the electricity is generated?
When the sunlight light (photons) reach the top of layer, electrons are excited and moving freely in both silicon layers. At this point, an electric field gets established and electrons get released out of the top of the silicon layer (metal conductor strips) where electricity is being produced.
How electrons flow?
Electrons flow through wires into specific destination (house) where they are used to power electrical components and then they flow back to the cell through the cell's metal backing. This electricity produced by the cell is then absorbed/store by the silicon layer which ensure the particles of sunlight (photons) do not get reflected (anti-reflective coating) through the process. The anti-reflective coating is very important because it keeps the alternative current flowing in back and fourth.
NOTE:
The electricity generated by the solar panel can run out depending on how much the sunlight is received. However, note that your house will need to be connected to any other source of power when your not using the solar panels, the power grid. Hence you are still connected to the utility grid (convention electricity) and this will make sure that you can always use electricity in case of raining day, night, very cloudy day etc...
Q:How will it impact the future?
A:
Solar Energy is one the most unused energy sources today! This technology is still being improved to make it more efficient and cost effective. I believe that solar panels will be vital in the future and solar energy will power most of our electric machines from buildings to cars as well as key chains, public traffic lights, etc. In the future years it will become more affordable and attainable to average consumer making it the primary energy source !
