1. Research Question
Which colour of light on the visible spectrum produces the highest electrical current voltage on a solar panel?
2. Hypothesis
Red light would generate the highest amount of electrical current voltage.
3. Independent variable
The colour of light shone on the solar panel.
4. Controlled variables
The location where the experiment is carried out, the amount/presence of other light sources in surroundings, the size/type of solar panel used.
Similar to the previous experiments, the solar panel was also placed in a box so that any surrounding lights would not affect the experiment. A hole was cut out of the top of the box for sunlight to enter.
5. Dependent variable
Amount electrical current voltage generated by the solar panel
6. Materials & Apparatus
1 solar panel
1 multi-meter
1 data logger
1 cardboard box
1 piece of red cellophane paper
1 piece of green cellophane paper
1 piece of blue cellophane paper
1 roll of masking tape
1 scissors, or any other tool that can cut the cardboard box
7. Procedure
1. Cut a hole on the top of the cardboard box so light can enter the box.
2. Tape the solar panel to the bottom of the cardboard box. Ensure the tape is only in contact with the sides of the solar panel, and does not cover the surface of the solar panel.
3. Attach the solar panel to the multi-meter. Cut another hole at the side of the box for the wires from the multi-meter to go through.
4. Place the cardboard box by the window. Tilt the box towards the window so that sunlight enters the cardboard box through the hole at the top of the box. (In this case, a book was used to further prop up the cardboard box)
5. Measure the voltage produced by the solar panel using the multi-meter and record the reading.
6. Repeat step 5, but covering the solar panel with the red cellophane paper, followed by the green cellophane, and then the blue cellophane paper. Record the readings.
7. Measure the light intensity of sunlight using the data logger.
8. Repeat steps 5, 6 & 7 one more time.
9. Repeat steps 5, 6, 7 & 8 every 2 hours, starting from 7am (sunrise) and ending at 7pm (sunset).
10. Repeat the whole experiment on another day.
8. Results
Table 1: Table to show the Voltage of Electricity produced by the Solar Panel under different colour filters, against time of the day on 15 July 2011 (Final Experiment)
Time | Light Intensity (lx) | Voltage of Electricity produced by Solar Cell (v)* | |||
No filter | With red filter | With green filter | With blue filter | ||
7.00am | 1120 | 2.095 | 1.355 | 1.19 | 1.035 |
9.00am | 2545 | 2.505 | 1.735 | 1.685 | 1.53 |
11.00am** | 1155 | 1.865 | 1.11 | 1.02 | 0.96 |
1.00pm | 5000 | 2.735 | 2.34 | 2.235 | 2.105 |
3.00pm | 4250 | 2.615 | 2.15 | 2.025 | 1.875 |
5.00pm** | 3130 | 2.475 | 1.86 | 1.74 | 1.575 |
7.00pm | 600 | 1.86 | 1.055 | 0.925 | 0.805 |
Table 2: Table to show the Voltage of Electricity produced by the Solar Panel under different colour filters, against time of the day on 17 July 2011 (Final Experiment)
Time | Light Intensity (lx) | Voltage of Electricity produced by Solar Cell (v)* | |||
No filter | With red filter | With green filter | With blue filter | ||
7.00am | 1260 | 2.135 | 1.315 | 1.225 | 1.07 |
9.00am | 4360 | 2.675 | 2.17 | 2.045 | 1.93 |
11.00am | 5000 | 2.825 | 2.445 | 2.375 | 2.275 |
1.00pm | 5000 | 3.145 | 2.83 | 2.745 | 2.695 |
3.00pm | 5000 | 2.805 | 2.525 | 2.455 | 2.39 |
5.00pm | 4415 | 2.515 | 1.89 | 1.635 | 1.465 |
7.00pm | 710 | 1.575 | 0.935 | 0.725 | 0.575 |
*The values of the electricity voltage produced by the solar panel are an average of 2 readings taken. Please refer to Appendix A for all raw data.
**From Table 1: At 11.00am and 5.00pm, it was overcast and raining respectively, thus resulting in the drop in light intensity and voltage of electricity produced by the solar panel.
Pictures
Picture of Cardboard Box:
Picture of Cardboard Box:
5 July 2011 - Comments on Redesigning of Experiment after meeting with Ms Tan
During today's meeting with Ms Tan, she gave me quite a lot of feedback on my experiment and suggested I redesign my experiment. For one, instead of using a flashlight, I should use natural sunlight instead of a flashlight for my experiment, since solar panels were after all designed for sunlight... Sunlight has wavelengths from several parts of the electromagnetic field, and not just the visible spectrum as compared to a flashlight (e.g. sunlight has infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths too)
As such, in my new experiment design, I will measure the voltage produced by the solar panel every hour under natural light for a 12-hour period, considering the wavelength of sunlight changes as the day passes (e.g. there is more reddish light at sunset and sunrise). On top of that, I will measure the voltage produced every hour by the solar panel when there is a colour filter on the solar panel. I will be using red, green and blue colour filters.
However, keeping in mind that the voltage produced by the solar panel may not just be affected by the wavelength of sunlight, but possibly also the intensity of sunlight, I will record the brightness of sunlight using a data logger, along with the voltage produced by the solar panel.
I will still keep my previous experiment, where the only changed variable is the wavelength of light (while the intensity of light is kept constant) as preliminary data.
The main purpose of this experiment is to determine at which wavelength of light (and therefore which time of the day) a solar panel would be most effective.
3 July 2011 - Final Experiment: Attempt 1
This is my 1st attempt at conducting the final experiment, with 7 different colours of cellophane paper. However, some problems cropped up and thus I probably will have to modify my experiment design.
1. Research Question
Which colour of light on the visible spectrum produces the highest electrical current voltage on a solar panel?
2. Hypothesis
Red light would generate the highest amount of electrical current voltage.
3. Independent variable
The colour of light shone on the solar panel.
4. Controlled variables
The brightness/intensity of the light source, the location where the experiment is carried out, the size/type of solar panel used.
In order to ensure that the brightness of the light source was consistent, a flashlight was used as the light source, instead of relying on sunlight as the brightness of sunlight may be affected by clouds etc. The solar panel was also placed in a box so that any surrounding lights would not affect the experiment. A hole was then cut out of the top of the box to shine the flashlight through.
5. Dependent variable
Amount electrical current voltage generated by the solar panel
6. Materials & Apparatus
1 solar panel
1 multi-meter
1 cardboard box
1 flashlight
Cellophane paper of seven different colours (red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet)
Rubber band
7. Procedure
a. Cut a hole out of the top of the cardboard box, such that the hole is just nice for the flashlight to fit through
b. Place the solar panel inside the cardboard box and connect the solar panel to the multi-meter. Turn on the multi-meter
c. Shine the flashlight into the box and record the reading on the multi-meter (the voltage of the electrical current generated). This will be the control.
d. Cover the flashlight with a piece of red cellophane paper and secure with a rubber band.
e. Shine the flashlight into the box and record the reading on the multi-meter.
f. Repeat steps (d) and (e) with the other colours of cellophane paper.
g. Repeat steps (c) to (f) once again.
8. Results
Colour Filter | Voltage of Current (v) | Average | |
1st attempt | 2nd attempt | ||
None (control) | 3.13 | 3.10 | 3.115 |
Red | 2.52 | 2.50 | 2.51 |
Orange | 2.75 | 2.69 | 2.72 |
Yellow | 2.93 | 2.91 | 2.92 |
Green | 2.65 | 2.66 | 2.655 |
Cyan | 2.44 | 2.43 | 2.435 |
Blue | 2.81 | 2.82 | 2.815 |
Violet | 2.99 | 2.98 | 2.985 |
28 June 2011 - Update!
Lai Yan is currently in the process of procuring 7 different colours of cellophane paper to conduct her final experiment :D
23 June 2011 - Preliminary Experiment
1. Research Question
Which colour of light on the visible spectrum produces the highest electrical current voltage on a solar panel?
2. Hypothesis
Red light would generate the highest amount of electrical current voltage.
3. Independent variable
The colour of light shone on the solar panel.
4. Controlled variables
The brightness/intensity of the light source, the location where the experiment is carried out, the size/type of solar panel used.
In order to ensure that the brightness of the light source was consistent, a flashlight was used as the light source, instead of relying on sunlight as the brightness of sunlight may be affected by clouds etc. The solar panel was also placed in a box so that any surrounding lights would not affect the experiment. A hole was then cut out of the top of the box to shine the flashlight through.
5. Dependent variable
Amount electrical current voltage generated by the solar panel
6. Materials & Apparatus
1 solar panel
1 multi-meter
1 cardboard box
1 flashlight
Cellophane paper of several different colours (For this preliminary experiment I am only testing red green blue)
Rubber band(s)
7. Procedure
a. Cut a hole out of the top of the cardboard box, such that the hole is just nice for the flashlight to fit through
b. Place the solar panel inside the cardboard box and connect the solar panel to the multi-meter. Turn on the multi-meter
c. Shine the flashlight into the box and record the reading on the multi-meter (the voltage of the electrical current generated). This will be the control.
d. Cover the flashlight with a piece of red cellophane paper and secure with a rubber band.
e. Shine the flashlight into the box and record the reading on the multi-meter.
f. Repeat steps (d) and (e) with blue and green cellophane paper.
g. Repeat steps (c) to (f) once again.
8. Results
Colour Filter | Voltage of Current (v) | Average | |
1st attempt | 2nd attempt | ||
None (control) | 3.01 | 3.09 | 3.05 |
Red | 2.50 | 2.54 | 2.52 |
Green | 2.68 | 2.65 | 2.665 |
Blue | 2.76 | 2.84 | 2.80 |
Comments: From the table, we can observe a linear trend in the voltage of the current produced. When the light shone on the solar panel is of a longer wavelength (i.e. red light), the voltage produced is lesser, but when a light of shorter wavelength is shone on the solar panel (i.e. blue light), the voltage produced is higher.
Pictures
Flashlight:
Multi-meter:
Experiment set-up:
Solar Panel inside cardboard box:
Flashlight with red cellophane paper:
Cellophane paper:
Flashlight with green cellophane paper:
Flashlight with blue cellophane paper:
21 June 2011 - Appendix D
APPENDIX D
Science Investigative Project
Project Proposal Form
Name: | Lai Yan (13 ) | Sec 2/10 |
Topic of investigation: | The effect of different wavelengths of light on the amount of electricity voltage generated by a solar panel |
A | Observations made |
I noticed that the solar lamp in my house relies on sunlight or white light, which is made up of seven colours, to work. I was wondering and would like to find out which particular colour light (i.e. which particular wavelength of length) in the visible spectrum would result in the lamp producing the highest electricity voltage, and thus be best for powering the lamp. | |
B | Research Question |
Which colour/wavelength of light produces the highest amount of electricity voltage generated by a solar panel? | |
C | Hypothesis statement |
Red light would generate the highest amount of electricity voltage. | |
D | A short summary of research done on the area of investigation The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to humans is known as the visible spectrum. The visible spectrum ranges in wavelength from approximately 400 nanometers to 700 nanometers. There are seven main colours of light in the visible light spectrum, namely red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and violet. The wavelength of light determines its colour. The different colours of light and their respective wavelength range is as follows: Violet: 380-450nm Blue: 450-475nm Cyan: 476-495nm Green: 495 – 570nm Yellow: 570 – 590nm Orange: 590 – 620nm Red: 620 – 720nm [Note: Indigo is nowadays omitted because it is actually just a mixture of blue and violet. These measurements are also a rough estimation only] White light is made up of these seven colours, while other colours (e.g. magenta) are a mixture of some of these seven spectral colours. Colours of light with longer wavelengths (e.g. red light) generally have more energy than colours of light with shorter wavelengths. Solar cells, or photovoltaic cells, convert light energy directly into electrical energy. |
E | Bibliography (Please refer to RS Students’ Handbook in RS Folder on Inet regarding APA Style Format) |
Jones, A. Z. (n.d.). The Visible Light Spectrum. Retrieved from http://physics.about.com/od/lightoptics/a/vislightspec.htm Jones, A. Z. (n.d.) What is a Photon?. Retrieved from http://physics.about.com/od/lightoptics/f/photon.htm Make it Solar. (n.d.) Wavelength of light that hits a Solar Panel. Retrieved from http://www.makeitsolar.com/science-fair-ideas/03-wavelength-light.htm Nave, C. R. (n.d.) Spectral Colors. Retrieved from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/specol.html Wikipedia. (n.d.) Visible Spectrum. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_spectrum Wikipedia. (n.d.) Spectral Color. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_color Wikipedia. (n.d.) Solar cell. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell Wikipedia. (n.d.) Electromagnetic spectrum. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum |
24 May 2011 - IDEAS #1
Had a few ideas, but none were feasible as the results were not "measurable" enough... An SIP project is supposed to be more of a data collection - for example, topics like "studying how different liquids affect the rate of oxidization of apple slices" is not a feasible SIP project, as it is hard to measure how much the apple slice has oxidized. :/
Failed ideas:
- Investigation of differences of nutrient levels and appearance of soil in differenSt locations in a forest (extension of WELLS project) --> Too complex, requires data collection at Dairy Farm and also involves many variables. Results may also not be conclusive.
- Investigating effect of putting different flavoured mentos sweets in coke (with reference to coke fountain thing) --> results aren't measurable
