Block+A+Group+4

Block A Group 4

Michael Czechowski & Jacob Preston


 * Question**: How Does Placing Part of a PV Cell in Shadow Affect Its Electrical Output?


 * Hypothesis:** If you put part of a PV cell in a shadow then the electrical output will lower?


 * Materials.**


 * 1-Lamp
 * 1-Stop Watch
 * 1-75 Watt Incondecent Light Bulb
 * 1- Solar Energy Cell
 * 1- Notecard
 * 1- Meter Stick
 * 2- Alligator Clips
 * 1- Ring Stand
 * Multimeter


 * Procedure:**
 * 1) Place solar energy cell 25 cm. under 75 watt incondecent light bulb so the light evenly shines on the solar energy cell.
 * 2) Let the light shine for one minute (time with stop watch) on the PVC.
 * 3) After 1 minute is up place 1 note card (may have to tear notecard to make it fit on the solar cell) on 1/5 of the solar energy cell and repeat step 1 and 2.
 * 4) Continue to cover the solar energy cell with pieces of the notecard after every minute(1/5 of the cell at a time) till it is fully covered.
 * 5) Record all data in table then graph results.


 * Data Table**
 * || Ratio Covered || Voltage Output ||
 * 1 || 0 || 4.73 ||
 * 2 || 1/5 || 4.30 ||
 * 3 || 2/5 || 4.11 ||
 * 4 || 3/5 || 4.00 ||
 * 5 || 4/5 || 3.90 ||
 * 6 || 5/5 or completely || 3.67 ||
 * Graph**


 * Conclusion**

Our Conclusion supports our hypothises because, the amount of electrical output decreased with the more shade we placed on it. This is real world application and can affect the use of a real photovolic panel because, the more shade the panel has on it, the amount of electrical output decreases, so if the solar panel isnt in a sunny enough area then it will not be useful.


 * Problem with lab**

When we started doing the experiment we had to change the use of folder to cover the solar cell, to using a notecard. To get more accurate results we should have taped the notecard to the solar cell, to cover the cell better. The data was off by a little bit because the notecard was not taped down on the cell so the light was still able to shine on the Solar cell makeing the readings slightly off.