Solar Panels - the science of Monocrystalline Solar Cells

There's never a Scientist around when you want one is there? We have questions.

What difference does it make if your photovoltaic solar panels use Monocrystalline solar cells or Multicrystalline solar cells?

How do you tell the two apart, can you do this just by looking?

Don't forget Thin FIlm and Flexible Solar Cells - are they more likely to suffer degradation over time?

We didn't know either so we went hunting and found a great resource of solar information, including more technical stuff and even some science experiments for the kids.

Click here to read more from Green Planet Solar Energy.

photo credit: davehamster

More School Science Projects that involve Solar Panels

You know, when you start looking - there are loads of science projects a school could undertake that include using solar panels. Like this one which converts a battery powered CD/Radio to run on Solar Energy...

"Solar power provides advantages for remote locations where there is a need for power but no electricity available. For example, if you go to the mountains for a camping trip or to the beach for a day in the sun there are no electrical outlets to conveniently plug in to.

You might want to use something as simple as a radio that runs on dc power and you can use solar power for this application since a solar panel supplies dc electrical current. Mini radios, as that shown in the photo run on batteries so are easily converted to a solar radio."

Read the full story by clicking here.

photo credit: violet_science