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The Effect of Light on a Solar Panel

CSEF · 2004 Electricity & Electronics

Kyle R. Felsman · St. John Fisher, Rancho Palos Verdes

Overview

Objectives/Goals I wanted to find out which type of light bulb (150 watt, 75 watt, 60 watt fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen) would make a solar panel produce the most amount of light. Methods/Materials For my project I used 150, 75, and 60 watt fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen light bulbs, a lamp holder, 9 1/2" by 9 1/2" wooden plank, cardboard box, multimeter, alligator clips, resistors, and a solar panel. First, I placed a solar panel inside a cardboard box and sealed the corners of the box so no other light could get in. Then I connect resistors and a multimeter to the solar panel. Finally, I used Ohm's Law to find the amount of power each light bulb produced. Results I found out that the 150 watt incandescent light bulb produced the most amount of power. Conclusions/Discussion I learned that it is not the amount of light a light bulb produces, but the wavelength or spectrum of the light that determines how much power a solar panel produces.

Summary statement

I wanted to find out what type of light bulb made a solar panel produce the most power.

Help received

I would like to thank my dad for helping me with the Ohm's Law formulas.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2004 Electricity & Electronics · Entry J0710

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Source: California Science & Engineering Fair public projects

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