Block+D+Group+5

Block D Group 5

1. Question: How does the distance from a light source affect the electrical output of a PV cell?

2. Hypothesis: If the solar cell is farther away from the light then the output of the PV cell will be decreased.

3. Materials needed:
 * solar cell
 * 75 watt light
 * multimeter
 * stopwatch
 * meter stick

4. Procedure:
 * 1) Hook alligator clips that are connected to solar cell to multimeter.
 * 2) Mark out 11 evenly distributed marks (0-100 cm).
 * 3) Place solar cell at the second mark.
 * 4) Turn light on for 2 minutes.
 * 5) Record voltage after 2 minutes.
 * 6) Move solar cell to the 3rd mark and repeat steps 5 and 6 until you reach 100 cm.

5. Data table: 6. Graph on paper
 * Distance || Volts ||
 * 10cm || 4.6 ||
 * 20cm || 4.2 ||
 * 30cm || 4.0 ||
 * 40cm || 3.9 ||
 * 50cm || 3.86 ||
 * 60cm || 3.7 ||
 * 70cm || 3.63 ||
 * 80cm || 3.52 ||
 * 90cm || 3.48 ||
 * 100cm || 3.38 ||

7. Conclusion: When the solar cell was further away from the light the output of the PV cell was be decreased.

8. Problems:
 * we would be more accurate with the distance, more precise
 * the light needed to be the same level as the PV cell, however we could'nt duplicate that every test
 * more accurate with stop watch
 * basic human error