Experiment 1: Does light intensity affect the electricity produced?

Directions: Place the PV cell at the distances of 4 cm, 12 cm, and 25 cm from your light
source. The solar cell should be held facing directly at the light source. Measure the current
of the cell at each distance away from the light source. Graph the results and answer the
questions.
Distance

Current

4 cm
Current
12 cm

25 cm
Distance

Which distance produced the strongest current? ________________________

Why do you think it produced the strongest current?
________________________________________________________________________

Experiment 2: Does the angle of the cell affect how much electricity is produced?
Directions: Place your PV cell on a horizontal surface in direct light. Measure the current.
Then, have point the PV cell directly at the light: slant it so that its shadow is directly behind
it, with the cells face perpendicular to the lights rays. Measure the current. Use a protractor,
measure the PV cells current at decreasing 15 intervals from the perpendicular (90, 75,
60, 45, 30, and 15), then graph the measurement. Answer the questions.
Angle

Current

Flat on table
15 degrees
30 degrees
45 degrees

Current

60 degrees
75 degrees
90 degrees

Angle (in degrees)

Which angle(s) produced the weakest current? ______________________

Which angle(s) produced the strongest current? ______________________
Why do you think the angles had produced different current strengths?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Experiment 3: How does concentrating the light affect how much electricity is produced?
Directions: Measure the current of a PV cell directly under your light source. Then, with the
cell in the same place, concentrate the light source on the cell with a magnifying glass (move
the magnifying glass around until a bright area appears on the cell). Measure the new current.
Make a cardboard reflector. Cut out a cardboard shape and glue aluminum foil on the four
flaps. Place the solar cell in the base and fold up the four side flaps to reflect light on the cell.
Measure the new current. Record the current for both methods in the table and answer the
questions.
Which method produced the strongest current?
Method

Current

_______________________

Plain Cell

Why do you think it produced a stronger current?

With
Magnifying
Glass

______________________________________________

With
Reflector

______________________________________________

______________________________________________