1. Solar Cells! The epic struggle between man and plant.

2. My, that’s bright The sun does more than brighten our day The sun does more than brighten our day It: It: –Heats the planet –Is partly responsible for all things about our climate –And of course it keeps stuff alive Plants, algae, some bacteria, and some protists use it directly for food. (photoautotrophs) Plants, algae, some bacteria, and some protists use it directly for food. (photoautotrophs)

3. Plants eat sunshine? How does a plant use sunshine for food? How does a plant use sunshine for food? –Water + CO 2 + Light = Sugar (Food) –Chlorophyll Plants also produce oxygen Plants also produce oxygen –Good for us, of course

4. Wouldn’t it be cool to use the sun too? Humans can’t use the sun for food Humans can’t use the sun for food Generally sunlight alone isn’t good enough to keep us alive in the winter Generally sunlight alone isn’t good enough to keep us alive in the winter How can we use the sun? How can we use the sun?

5. Solar Panels! 2 main categories 2 main categories –Things that use the heat Solar hot water panel Solar hot water panel –Pools can use this to make heated water –Some homes/camps can use this also –Things that use the light Solar cells or photovoltaics Solar cells or photovoltaics This is what I want to talk about! This is what I want to talk about!

6. Solar Cells: Hey! I’ve heard of those! Solar panel-powered electronics have become fairly common Solar panel-powered electronics have become fairly common –Calculators for instance Spacecraft almost always have some sort of solar panel on them Spacecraft almost always have some sort of solar panel on them Less commonly houses/camps use them for electricity Less commonly houses/camps use them for electricity

7. How do they work? They don’t produce sugar They don’t produce sugar They produce electrons They produce electrons –Electrons power everything electrical Electrons are either used or stored in a battery Electrons are either used or stored in a battery

8. How do they work?

9. Single panels usually aren’t enough Single panels usually aren’t enough Multiple panels are used to get more voltage or power Multiple panels are used to get more voltage or power

10. The future of solar panels Solar energy is not very popular for anything larger than a calculator Solar energy is not very popular for anything larger than a calculator Research in more efficient, cheap materials are sure to make this technology more widespread Research in more efficient, cheap materials are sure to make this technology more widespread

11. The End