Let There Be Light Essay examples -- Energy Transportation Papers

Let There Be Light The sun shines brightly over the rolling green hillsides on a beautiful summer day. Green leaf-covered trees wave gently in the breeze next to the road, soaking up the light. However, if you look closely, off in the distance, you might catch a glimpse of some odd-looking vehicles approaching at a steady pace. As the pack zooms by, you cannot help but notice the black panels covering each car. You curiously wonder what purpose they serve, and why these automobiles left no smell of exhaust behind. Suddenly, you realize the connection: It was right under your nose the whole time! Just as the trees use sunlight to grow and reproduce, these solar powered cars convert the sun’s rays into energy that propels them onward. History In 1839, a French scientist named Edmond Becquerel experimented with electronics and found that he could create a weak electric current using selenium, a light-sensitive metal that responded to the sun’s rays. Becquerel had discovered â€Å"photovoltaics† (â€Å"photo† meaning â€Å"light,† â€Å"voltaic† meaning â€Å"power†), or the PV effect, which turned out to be the key to harnessing solar energy and converting it into useful forms (Bellis 1). Although he had little explanation for this phenomenon, his successors picked up the investigative process where he left off. In 1870, Heinrich Hertz researched and experimented with selenium, and produced a primitive light-to-electricity machine (1). As time progressed, scientists developed newer and better solar energy converters using silicon, which had a much higher efficiency than selenium. Solar cells were first officially invented by Charles Fritts in 1883 (1). Fritts used the selenium metal, which ... ... Cars – Solar Energy and Photovoltaics.† New York: About, Inc., 2002. 23 Aug. 2002. â€Å"History of the World Solar Challenge.† World Solar Challenge. 23 Aug. 2002. Shnayerson, Michael. â€Å"The Car That Could - The Inside Story of GM's Revolutionary Electric Vehicle.† Businessweek Online. 23 Aug. 2002. â€Å"Solar Powered Vehicles.† Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC). 23 Aug. 2002. â€Å"Sunrayce.† University of Michigan. 23 Aug. 2002. â€Å"Tour a Solar Car.† American Solar Challenge. 23 Aug. 2002