Name: ________________________________________
Date: _____________
Measuring Solar Cell Output—Tilt Angle
OBJECTIVE: Investigate how the angle between the sun and the solar cell affects the output.
MATERIALS:
• Solar cell
• Multimeter
• 250-500 W camping or shop lights
• Resistor (or small load)
• Meter stick/ruler
• Protractor
PROCEDURES:
_____
1. Hold the solar panel at different angles using the protractor to measure the angles of the light
source hitting the photovoltaic (PV) cell.
_____
2. Record the current and voltage change for the different angles in the data table.
COLLECTING AND PRESENTING DATA:
Tilt Angle Data Table
Angle
of Solar
Cell to
Light
Source
Current
(Amps)
Voltage
(Volts)
Power
(Watts)
90
Degrees
80
Degrees
70
Degrees
60
Degrees
50
Degrees
40
Degrees
30
Degrees
20
Degrees
10
Degrees
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Graph your results (voltage data only):
ANALYSIS:
1. What is the maximum amount of current (Amps) that can be produced?
2. What is the angle of the solar panel for the maximum current?
3. What is the maximum amount of voltage (Volts) that can be produced?
4. What is the angle of the solar panel for the maximum voltage?