Question
What absorbs the energy from light falling on a photovoltaic cell?
Answer Options
- A) Protons
- B) Photons
- C) Electrons
- D) Holes
Correct Answer: B
Explanation
A photovoltaic cell (solar cell) converts light energy directly into electrical energy. The process begins when light interacts with the semiconductor material (typically silicon) of the cell. Light energy travels in discrete packets, or quanta, which initiate the electronic process.
The discrete packets of light energy are called photons. When light falls on the cell, the photons are absorbed by the semiconductor material. If a photon has sufficient energy (which depends on the light’s wavelength and the material’s bandgap), it transfers its energy to an electron within the semiconductor, creating an electron-hole pair that then generates the electric current.
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