Richard Abbott

10/06/15
AM Capstone
A good secondary source of energy would be solar power. Solar power begins with solar
panels placed under direct sunlight. In the solar panel, there are cells called solar photovoltaic
cells which consists of a negative and a positive film of silicon, both under a thin piece of glass.
When sunlight shines on the cells, it excites negatively charged electrons and they become
attracted to one side of the cell, which creates an electric voltage in the form of direct current
(DC).
In order to use the electric voltage for normal use, it needs to be converted from direct
current to alternating current (AC). It gets converted in an inverter box that is directly connected
to the solar panels. Inverters are very simple. All they do is flip the incoming direct current back
and forth in the primary coil by reversing the contacts, which produces the alternating current in
the secondary coil. That electrical energy, consisting of electrons running down the wires,
creates kinetic motion (energy of motion) in the motor that is called mechanical energy. Heat
energy is also created by the motor which is energy lost.

Citations

How do solar systems produce energy? (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2015.

Inverters. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2015.