Solar Definition and 1000 Threads

Like asteroid clusters or any kind of what-not thought to be part of our solar system?

I was wondering in Schottky junction solar cells, how is the open circuit voltage dependant on the built in potential and the Schottky Barrier Height?

solar updraft tower: How small a working unit can be made? My reason to ask this question is: I think that if a commercial unit is ever to be built, first the concept must be widely established. One or two working examples of a size similar to the prototype built in Spain won't likely prove...

Dear All,I understand that one of the most popular theories concerning the origin of the solar system begins with cloud of gas and dust (called a nebula), assumed to be the remnants of a supernova; in order to explain elements such as iron and above.That this nebula begins to flatten into a...

Homework Statement See attached image, assignment a) Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Using ordinary trigonometry, I got simply $$\Delta = sin(\theta_i) 2 d tan(\theta_t) n_{air} - 2n_{oxide} d/cos(\theta_t)$$. However, even if I apply Snell's law, it's not the answer I'm supposed to...

So I had this idea and I want to run it by some people and see if it's 1) possible 2) worthy of pursuing further 3) a good idea. I don't have a degree in engineering or physics, I'm currently studying chemistry and am taking physics 2 (E&M) right now, so excuse me if I don't use the correct...

Hi, I have got a rather large data set and no matter how hard i look i can't find any equations to convert the data back to STC, i have both AC and DC power, all the currents and voltages and all the data sheets for the equipment. if someone could please help me find an equation to help it...

I was wondering whether there is an actual scientific point of taking ground-based photographs of the Solar corona during total eclipses on Earth. It seems to attract a lot of attention from well equipped amateurs around the world and the pictures of the fine plasma structure surely look great...

I'm reading about short circuit current in a solar PV cell and I am a little confused. The short circuit current is defined as the current across the solar cell when there is zero potential difference across the cell. At this point the short circuit current is equal to the light current. What...

I'm designing an off-grid system with solar panels on six different roofs spread out over about a hectare. There is also a generator on the site for backup and when the solar isn't enough. I need all the solar panels to feed one main distribution panel. What are my options? I've considered...

Just to let everyone know here in the UK we are waiting expectantly for the Solar Eclipse tomorrow morning - max at around 9.30am. 98% coverage in the north of Scotland and the Orkneys, Hebrides and Shetland islands, 85% down here in the south. The totality shadow crosses from the North...

Hi, I recently bought a smallish 12v DC solar panel for trickle charging my jetski battery. I've had a look at the panel with a multimeter and in good sunlight it makes easy 24V but very very low current. I was wondering if I stick a 99pence buck converter on in, forcing the voltage to a max of...

Hey, I have searched in the internet for the good or the negative points for a parallel- or a series circuit with a solar cell. But i didnt find something. I mean what is the difference when i connect many solar cells to a solar panel? What is better? A parallel or an series circuit? I know...

If solar eclipse occurs at 12h 12m 12s actually. Then at what time one will see it on earth. Will the speed of light affect the time if moon starts covering sun at 12 h 12 m 12s when one will see covering on earth? at what time? I just want to know I am just curious do you think the time taken...

Hi, I was wondering if anyone here had any experience (preferably intimate) with the Weber-Davis solar wind model, i.e. ...

I am trying to explain why why the survival probability for solar neutrinos is different for different neutrino solar lines, and what causes this difference.

I've made a virtual solar system in Java3d. I'm trying to implement the orbiting of planets and ships. I get the basic formula F = G((m1*m2)/r^2))[\code] and saw a discussion here about the formula in 3d but, I don't know how to read a letter with an arrow over it, lol. Can someone help me...

by Ken Croswell If ET exists, he probably lives in a solar system with many planets. That's the implication of a new study that finds that the more planets a solar system has, the more circular their orbits tend to be. Link (including a color chart showing the correlation of orbital...

Can we use a mirror to reflect sun's light on a solar panel and generate electricity?

I didn't know where to post this, but, this video makes my eyes water.

Hi, I am wondering if all the different wavelengths (ie colors) of light are absorbed by a PV panel, and if so is the absorption equal among all the wavelengths? Is there any wavelength(s) that are more readily reflected off the glass or the PV cell itself? Thanks a lot! Scott

My understanding is that the seasonal variation in temperature, amongst many other things, is a reflection of the Earth's tilt. Simply put, at the equator, sun rays fall "straight down" (100% vertical), and all of their energy hits the surface of the Earth. At different latitudes, these rays...

Homework Statement Which has the most intense sunlight hitting it?Question 2 options: A point on the Equator at sunset The North Pole at Noon on the Summer Solstace Montreal at Noon on the Spring Equinox The South Pole on the (Northern hemisphere) Summer SolstaceHomework Equations none The...

Good day everyone, So I have a spare solar panel that has been laying around and I want to put it to use. Its a small panel, about 8"X12". The specs read 8 Watts and 17 Volts I was thinking of maybe making a solar charger for phones and other 5VDC USB devices. I bought a 5VDC regulator kit...

Is there a website where data on extra solar planets is summarized? Questions such as: how far away are the parent stars from here?, what fraction of nearby stars have planets?, what fraction of the planets are "earth-like?, how many in "goldilocks zone?

I am currently working on a prototype for a new product. Whithout exposing the product to much it is simply put a cooling box run by solar panels with a battery backup. Due to the fact that the surface area available for solar panels is limited the cooling module needs to be quite small and...

Homework Statement It can be shown that a square wave can be represented by a sum of sine waves as given by the formula below v = v0sinωot + v1sinω1t + v2sinω2t + v3sinω3t +... Solar cells have an output that is dc. The pd across a cell depends on the incident radiation and the efficiency of...

Hi everyone. On these days, by watching solar panels and similar stuff, I just thought about it, and why they take such a wide surface to produce energy, and why their output is often low, as we all know. By navigating here on the internet, I've just seen a device called OPO (Optical...

As I am currently residing in Doha, Qatar, I've decided to base my mini-thesis on Solar energy. And although I haven't got it finalized yet, I'm thinking of investigating the efficiency of solar powered cars. I could build a toy car and input solar-powered batteries as opposed to another toy...

I want to make a solar simulator with LEDs. I want to get a net intensity of 1 Sun(1000 W/m^2). My LEDs have the following specifications: LUXEON S LXS8-PW30 Luminous flux at 700 mA, 85°C* 1315 lm Radiant flux at 700 mA, 85°C 4113 mW 1931 CIE color points at 700 mA, 85°C (0.4304, 0.4030)...

Hi, I want to make a solar simulator with white LEDs as a part of my project. I searched net about it, but couldn't get much details about it? Can some one help me with the basic schematics, no. of LEDs required and the design? Regards, Jefin

I saw recently a new article about some kind of PEC cell immersed in water which could separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. (It was news because they found a way to protect the cell from immediate corrosion damage) It seemed that somehow the scientists had designed a cell that could put the...

Hi mates, I have to find solar cell efficiency by datas that given. These datas comes from an experiment in light and in dark. I found efficiency in light by square method with IV curve. But i don't know how to find in dark. The square method doesn't work cos data crossing the origin, no area to...

can you tell me if it is possible to make a solar panel that will let some light through and still capture the wavelength that makes electricity? or better yet see through.

From a top-level view, what exactly are people working on in solar these days? Efficiency? Cost? Both? What are the parameters people really have to vary? Crystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous? Binary, ternary, quaternary compounds? Crystal structure (I have heard perovskites are a hot...

hi guys, why our solar system is flat? why planets are not revolving arround the sun as atoms revolve arround the nucleus? why galaxys are flat? why black holes are flat?

Homework Statement [/B] The main problem is if it is safe to charge a solar battery as quickly as possible assuming that I have a large current charger. Let's say I have: 70Ah Solar Battery 50 F, 15 V Ultra Capacitor C = Q/V Q = CV = (50)(15) = 750 I = Q/t It = Q = 750 Ampere-second E = 15...

Homework Statement Hey guys Concentrated photovoltaic systems are known for high efficiency performance compared to that of a standard solar panel. But, what's confusing me is the reason behind using lesser photovoltaic material in CPV systems. Can't we use the solar panel of the same size...

How are solar flares and solar winds generated due to the magnetic field of the sun ? Please elaborate and provide detailed explanation if possible.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141125111816.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmatter_energy%2Fsolar_energy+%28Solar+Energy+News+--+ScienceDaily%29 Pretty cool use of a mass produced product but how much do you think a Chuck Norris disk...

As I know, when a string of solar cells connected in series, if one of the cell is shaded, it will be reverse bias due to current mismatch and the voltage can be very high, say, 20V. But in short circuit condition, the overall voltage should be zero, if other cells are in forward bias, how can...

< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical engineering forums, so no HH Template is shown > I have taken part in a competition about solar car racing recently. The car I am going to make is just as big as a toy car. I have some problems about it's power source. I am going to use...

So i was wondering could you use two helio stats so there was two refraction points, the second one focusing the beam of solar energy back downwards? If so could you use multiple helio stats to meet at refraction point # 2 magnifying the beam that's pointed downwards? In theory it should work...

by Ken Croswell Earth and its planetary neighbors arose in a magnetic field strong enough to sculpt the disk of gas and dust that spawned our solar system and set the stage for a planet capable of developing life. That's the implication of new work that uses a meteorite to deduce the strength...

Hi good day to you all :) can anyone explain with some detail the principles on how a solar water heater works and the energy transfers. THANKS

The current and the voltgate from solar cell are verry small, so can i add a amplicifer circuit? And How add?

Hello Physics Forums Community, I have completed ODE, 3 semesters of intro Calc, 3 semesters of intro physics, taking linear now. I have recently gotten the opportunity to work on little projects with a professor of astrophysics at a university. On the first meeting, the professor handed me...

Is it possible for our solar system to be located inside a black hole which is our galactic centre?

I'm attempting to design a turbine for a small scale solar updraft tower. It produces between 1-3 m/s of air flow in a 0.3m diameter tower. I'm in need of resources that can guide me on designing the turbine fan. I've already got the Wind Energy Handbook, however I'm not even sure if following...

This morning I was momentarily struck by the coincidence that magnetic North and "solar East" (the direction of the rising sun) happened to be (approximately) perpendicular, but now it doesn't really seem coincidental; as I understand it, spinning of the Earth causes a current that leads to the...