Students explain solar panels

Solar panels are made of semiconductor materials, usually silicon. When sunlight hits the silicon cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. This process is called the photovoltaic effect. Solar energy is an important and popular form of renewable energy that could help our communities move away from nonrenewable resources like coal and other fossil fuels. Idea for the. . atoms. The word "photovoltaic" comes from "photo" (meaning light) and "volt" (a unit of electricity). Most solar heating systems capture solar. . People have used the sun's rays (solar radiation) for thousands of years for warmth and to dry meat, fruit, and grains. [PDF]