Part 3

Question 1

What can the IV characteristics of a solar cell be used to determine?

Answer 1

Performance parameters such as max power and efficiency

Question 2

At a fixed irradiance, what is the power supplied by a solar cell dependent on?

Answer 2

Load resistance R

Question 3

What is part 3 of the experiment?

Answer 3

IV characteristics of the solar cell

Question 4

Procedure for part 3?

Answer 4

1. Connect solar cell to DMM and variable resistor
2. Fixed distance of solar cell
3. Measure voltage and current at different resistances from 0 to large R
4. plot VI, power vs resistance curve
5. Repeat at different distances

Question 5

When does a solar cell reach its maximum power ?

Answer 5

At load resistance R max which is approx equal to internal resistance

Question 6

Equation for Internal resistance?

Answer 6

R = open circuit voltage / short circuit current

Question 7

What is maximum power smaller than?

Answer 7

The product of the open circuit voltage and the short circuit current

Question 8

What is the fill factor?

Answer 8

The quality of the solar cell

Question 9

Equation for fill factor?

Answer 9

F = Pmax / (open V * short I)

Question 10

How can solar efficiency be calculated?

Answer 10

Maximum power / Incident power

Question 11

What is calculated in part 3?

Answer 11

Internal resistance, fill factor, efficiency