A solar cell has a light-gathering area of 12.4 cm² and produces 0.49 A at 0.93 V (dc)when illuminated with sunlight of intensity 884 W/m².What is the efficiency of the solar cell? A)42% B)3.4% C)64% D)1.7% E)19%

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The efficiency of the solar cell is given by the ratio of the electrical power output to the light power input. The electrical power output is given by the product of the current and voltage, while the light power input is given by the product of the light intensity and the light-gathering area. Therefore, the efficiency is:$$\eta = \frac{IV}{IA} = \frac{(0.49 A)(0.93 V)}{(884 W/m^2)(12.4 cm^2)(10^{-4} m^2/cm^2)} = 0.42$$Therefore, the efficiency of the solar cell is 42%.

A Solar Cell Has a Light-Gathering Area of 12