Question by Ellie: How is solar energy used to make electric power?
Is it solar panels? How do solar panels work? Please explain in a way that can be put into a sentence or two.
Best answer:
Answer by Jacob Harmon- Mountain Wind and SolarHi I am the owner of Mountain Wind & Solar http://mountainwindnsolar.com (please be aware though that this website is still under construction).
Solar Panels create electricity from the sun.
How does photovoltaic (PV) (Solar) technology work?
PV takes advantage of the characteristics of impure silicon crystals. Pure silicon is not electrically active, because its atoms are locked into a solid crystal structure. There are no spare electrons, and no open spots for electrons. Silicon impurities create crystal with either a slight tendency to lose electrons or a slight tendency to attract them. When the two kinds of silicon are placed close together and exposed to sunlight, photons (particles of light) knock electrons loose on the unattractive side. An electrical current is created as electrons travel across the junction to the attractive side.
Sunlight is composed of particles of energy called photons. When sunlight strikes a PV material, photons will either pass through, be reflected, or be absorbed. If the photon is absorbed, its energy will be transferred to an electron in an atom of the PV material. With new energy, the electron is able to escape from its normal position in orbit around that atom. In this way, the electron can become part of, and augment, the current in an electrical circuit. This photovoltaic effect is the basic physical process through which sunlight is converted into electricity.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are made of similar materials and take advantage of the same physical principles, but in reverse. Powering LEDs with a PV panel works compatibly: photons in, electrons out; electrons in, photons out.
If you have any specific questions about wind turbines or solar panels feel free to email me at go_green@mountainwindnsolar.com
Add your own answer in the comments!
Monday, December 10, 2012
How is solar energy used to make electric power?
Q&A: What are we supposed to do about the solar eclipse Sunday?
Question by Just Askin': What are we supposed to do about the solar eclipse Sunday?
Are we supposed to sacrifice a chicken or a goat to bring back the sun disk? Or an enemy captive? Or do we send money to a televangelist?
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/solar-eclipse-2012-annular-eclipse-visible-california-texas/story?id=16377743
Best answer:
Answer by gimme yo FudgeeOadmire it
Give your answer to this question below!
Total Solar Eclipse as viewed from Gordonvale, South of Cairns on the morning of November 14 2012 at around 6:40 am. I've seen plenty of meteor showers from the outback. I watched the 2001 Leonids from the peak of Fitzroy Island, that was stunning. I stop in the middle of the outback on my longer drives to gaze at the stars hundreds of Km from the nearest lights. The solar eclipse was by far the most grand and spectacular show I've ever seen in the sky. The partial eclipse was obscured by thick clouds, but at the last few minutes before totality the heavy cloud passed and we were left with a near perfect view of the full total eclipse as the shadow of the moon passed directly over us. At 0:50 the lens is shaded for a moment, and as the camera readjusts to the light, you can clearly 5 of the 6 points of light where the sun shines through valleys on the moon's surface which is an incredibly rare sight. It was something truly amazing to see in person, if you ever get a chance to see a total eclipse, even if you live a few hours away, GO. I was so glad our video came out as well as it did so we can share the experience with others and preserve and relive this wonderful memory ourselves. What a beautiful world we live in! Watch, like, comment, share and enjoy with blessings. (for sale: eclipse glasses, used once.) 0_o
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Q&A: is there a possibility of having a solar eclipse in sanfrancisco?
Question by ferrariguy1000: is there a possibility of having a solar eclipse in sanfrancisco?
I hear so many solar eclipses over Asia and south America, but is there one predicted in the near future over San Fransisco?
Best answer:
Answer by Randy PLots of good info on NASA's eclipse web page.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html
Here's the solar eclipse page:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/solar.html
And here's a few summary maps. 2001-2020.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas3/SEatlas2001.GIF
2021-2040:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas3/SEatlas2021.GIF
2041-2060:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas3/SEatlas2041.GIF
Looks like there's an annular eclipse visible across a good chunk of northern California in May 2012, so San Francisco ought to have a decent view of that one. And a total eclipse over Oregon in August 2017.
In 2106 there's a total eclipse pretty much right over San Francisco or perhaps San Jose (I'm not 100% sure of the geography of California).
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas3/SEatlas2101.GIF
Is that soon enough?
I'm just hoping for one close enough to North America to make it feasible to travel to. I'm in the Eastern US and like you it seems like we never get them. It looks like the 2017 one is the one I should aim for.
What do you think? Answer below!