ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Solar panel

Solar panels, also called photovoltaic panels, are devices that capture sunlight and turn it into electricity that can be used to power homes or other appliances. This is done by using tiny particles called electrons, which move in response to sunlight hitting a special material called a semiconductor. When the electrons move, they generate electricity, which can be collected and used to power things like lights, refrigerators, or computers.

Imagine you have a toy car that needs batteries to work. You can buy batteries from the store, but what if you didn’t have to buy them? What if you could just get the energy you needed from something outside like the sun? That’s what a solar panel does! It takes in sunlight and turns it into energy, kind of like charging up a battery.

The sun sends out light, which is made up of tiny particles called photons. When sunlight hits the solar panel, it causes the electrons inside the panel to become excited and move around. The movement of these electrons creates an electric current, which can then be collected and used to power things like a light bulb.

The solar panel is made up of many small units called solar cells. Each solar cell is made up of layers of silicon, a type of material that can conduct electricity very well. The silicon is arranged so that there is an imbalance of electrons, with some atoms having extra electrons and others not enough. This creates an electric field that helps the electrons move when sunlight hits the panel.

Overall, solar panels are an important and renewable source of energy that can help reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources like coal or oil. They are easy to use, efficient, and can provide clean energy for many years with very little maintenance.