Explained Simply #6: How does a solar panel make electricity?
Light knocks electrons loose at the P-N junction inside the silicon; the junction pushes them one way = a current.
Sunlight into electricity — with NO moving parts! ☀️⚡
Each solar cell is two layers of silicon: N-type on top, P-type below. Where they meet (the P-N junction) there's a built-in push — an electric field.
Light hits the cell and knocks electrons loose. The push sends them one way: up to the top layer.
Connect a wire: the electrons flow out of the top, through your lamp, and back in at the bottom. That's a current! 💡 (It's DC.)
One cell makes about half a volt. A 60-cell panel ≈ 30 V.
Read the voiceover (transcript)
- Sunlight into electricity? No moving parts!
- Each cell is two layers of silicon. Where they meet, there's a built-in push.
- Light knocks electrons loose, and the push sends them one way!
- Out through the wire, through your lamp, and back in. That's a current!
- One cell makes about half a volt!
- Next: how a CPU does billions of things! Follow for more!
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