Maximizing Power

How can we build the solar car so it gives us the most power from the solar panel? One way is to try to get the solar panel to produce more current. To produce current, more electrons need to be forced to move inside the panel. If more sunlight hits the solar panel, more electrons are knocked away from atoms in the solar panel and more current is then produced!

How can we do this? One way is to tilt the solar panel towards the sun. The more of the sun's rays hit the panel, the more current will flow and the more power will be produced.Think of the following two cars:

Which one would have more power? In this case, the car on the right would, because it has more sunlight hitting it than the car on the left does.

Of course, the best way to tell if this will affect your car is to try it with the solar panel mounted at different angles - - experiments are the best way to find out.

Another idea that you might want to experiment with is using a reflector to capture more sunlight with the solar panel.

On the right, a reflector that is twice as wide as the solar panel could be made to direct twice as much sunlight to it. This would double the current coming out of the solar panel and double its power!

The disadvantage is that the car would be heavier with a reflector, and a heavier car will be harder to move. Also the reflectors might add air drag or get caught in side winds causing the car to tip over. But, as usual, the only real way to find out is to build one and see!

Test your knowledge of Solar Panels

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