The photo electric effect is the transfer of energy from photons from the sun to electrons in a metal. The transfer puts the electrons in an excited state. If the photon energy or wavelength has enough energy, the electron can travel (Britannica, 2023). This forms the basis of a photovoltaic cell which makes up solar panels. The solar panels provide raw electron flow which is passed through an inverter to convert the electron flow into usable power.

The latitude of the solar site affects the photo electric effect directly. There is a “solar window” which relates to the amount of sunlight available for the solar panels (Mayfield, 2010). The curve of the sun across the sky and its angle of incident in contacting the solar panel at differing times of the year affect the performance of the solar panel. Thus, location and panel orientation are important factors in using solar power.

Angle of Incidence: This refers to the angle the sun hits the solar panels. This affects the energy density of the surface area times the energy of the sun on the surface in question (Mazria, 1979, pg. 13). Energy density formula: Ed = SeACos(α) (Authors own derived formula) The energy density (Ed) is a function of the sun’s rays (Se) hitting the surface area (A) being reduced by the angle of incidence (α).

Solar 101 - How do Solar Panels Work? - Video

Solar Panels - TED-ED Video

Math Formulas for Solar Power

Magnetic Induction