A competing technology uses a photovoltaic cell to charge a battery which can then be used to power a LED light. To compare these technologies, we make some reasonable assumptions. We assume the solar cell is 10 cm on a side, and that it has an efficiency of 15%. We assume the battery is a LaNi5 nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery with a mass of 50 grams, and we assume that the battery has an actual specific charge of 50% of its theoretical specific charge. We also assume that the battery produces an average voltage of 1.1 V.

How much power (in watts) will be generated by our solar cell if we place it in 1000 W/m2 direct incident sunlight?

Question

A competing technology uses a photovoltaic cell to charge a battery which can then be used to power a LED light. To compare these technologies, we make some reasonable assumptions. We assume the solar cell is 10 cm on a side, and that it has an efficiency of 15%. We assume the battery is a LaNi5 nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery with a mass of 50 grams, and we assume that the battery has an actual specific charge of 50% of its theoretical specific charge. We also assume that the battery produces an average voltage of 1.1 V.

How much power (in watts) will be generated by our solar cell if we place it in 1000 W/m2 direct incident sunlight?

wolfe8 · Answer

Hello and welcome to OS. We will be glad to help you but this question belongs in the Physics section. You can get there by clicking on 'Find More Subjects' at the top. By posting it there, you should get the help you need. Good luck.