Solar Panel Efficiency GCSE Challenge

Exam Studio is just one part of PhysicsUK membership.

More Physics toolsPhysicsUK Solve, QWC, MCQ and Worksheet Studio give you different ways to practise.

Saved progressKeep your answers, feedback and markbook evidence together across your course.

Personalised next stepsSee the topic or skill PhysicsUK recommends from your recent work.

Question

8 marks

All numbers are illustrative teaching data, not measured household output. A photovoltaic panel receives sunlight and supplies a connected external circuit.

1(a)

Identify the energy transfer bringing energy from the Sun to the panel, and the useful energy transfer from the panel to the external circuit.

[2 marks]

1(b)

During a test the panel receives

900 J

of solar energy and supplies

180 J

electrically. Calculate its percentage efficiency. Suggest one possible destination for some of the energy not supplied electrically. Use:

efficiency = \frac{useful output energy}{total input energy}

[3 marks]

1(c)

On one model winter day the average electrical output is

100 W

for

4.0 h

. On one model summer day it is

150 W

for

8.0 h

. Calculate the energy generated on each day in watt-hours. Explain why lower winter energy output does not contradict the statement that a colder cell can have higher efficiency under the same illumination. Use energy in watt-hours = average power in watts multiplied by time in hours.

[3 marks]

Start the question to write your answer, receive marks and ask Sherlock Ohms for text help.