Solar cells

Solar cells and panels are now common on rooftops, garden lights and fountains and many more places, but how do they work? Rob gives a quick explanation of these little power units that are steadily transforming our lives.

[@CuriosityShow]

Yes, i can't remember the cost as it was lent to us, but from the cost of putting panels on my own house only a few years ago compared with the cost today, I guess it was a pretty valuable prop. - Rob

[@top40researcher31]

oh boy have we come along way look what we have now

[@TrapperAaron]

I live in Florida lots of sun. Companies down here offer solar panels for "free". I had a company look over my home for "free" solar. Unfortunately they would only install panels if I cut down all the shade trees that keep my home cool. I declined their offer as the trees are more efficient at keeping home cool rather than running my a/c unit partially on solar panels. Also the trees provide great living space for native plants and animals. As well as being beautiful.

[@AmrinderRandhawa]

@@TrapperAaron A beautiful house. Please keep it that way.

[@s3tTz]

Probably the best segment I've seen so far. Thanks Rob and Dean!

[@duffman7065]

Really amazing to see how far we’ve come in 30 odd years and the applications of solar power that we probably take for granted.

[@danii.j_]

The song playing from the Zola Radio is "Everytime You Go Away" by Paul Young. Such a classic

[@allisterdavidson9805]

Rob! you predicted the future.

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

Solar panels are perfect for sunny-hot days, they make good umbrellas :)

[@lundsweden]

Wow, one of the best segments ever!

[@nitramluap]

I remember seeing this on TV when I was a small boy. Now I have solar panels on my roof, a home battery and an electric car and haven't used any grid power (or petrol) in 2 years. If we can limit our global warming, who knows where we might end up. If we don't, we know where we will...

[@NODRULE]

All that electricity you use to charge your car comes from petrol oil/coal plants doesn't it? xD And global warming cause by the sun? Get any power when its a cloudy day?

[@quollosuru]

@@NODRULEsolar panels can save energy in a battery for cloudy days or nighttime

[@neelav2394]

Rob and Deane are the 'Bob Ross' of science!

[@CuriosityShow]

Thanks. Curiosity Show was a national science program for children featuring Dr Rob Morrison and Dr Deane Hutton. It was made in Adelaide, South Australia and screened nationally in Australia as well as in Europe, Asia and Australasia (14 countries) from 1972-1990. Deane and Rob intentionally used everyday items around the house (like old cans) so that children could repeat the demonstrations with materials they had to hand. In 1984 Curiosity Show won the Prix Jeunesse International, the world's top award for children's TV programs. Rob and Deane are steadily uploading segments at kzbin.info Why not subscribe?

[@dangerouslytalented]

I wonder how much that particular solar panel cost compared to those of today... The thing must have cost thousands.

[@steviewonder2049]

Paul Young on the old radio

[@teckwee18]

would be great if you can do a video of your updates :-)

[@impalax327]

Did the show ever do a piece on Nikola Tesla ??

[@camski7359]

We were taught in DC theory that the flow of electrons was in the opposite direction as shown here, flowing from negative to positive inside the battery thus resulting in a positive to negative flow in the circuit.

[@ntal5859]

Well as electronic engineer for 35yrs I can tell you that you are wrong. Electron flow always sends electrons from negative thru the load and returns to positive terminal. However there is a thing called "conventional flow"... This describes the flow from positive to negative to make it more understandable for most people ... That said it's Not how electrons flow...it's for people to understand concepts.

[@daniello-g5593]

just here to find out where to buy that solar radio

[@ntal5859]

Tandy back in the day...

[@mv9787]

Curiosity show is the worlds first KZbin channel. They made videos long before youtube

[@CuriosityShow]

Thanks, lots more at kzbin.info please spread the word - Rob

[@sporkfindus4777]

I'm surprised we don't use more solar power now. I'm sure there are reasons for this though.

[@benji274]

Solar cells?? As if !! Oh wait... Wow, 30 years ahead of its time again...

[@gorillaau]

Yes, that was never going to take off.

[@CaptWesStarwind]

That is never going to catch on.

[@ntal5859]

You are right,Mr fusion will be all you need.

[@gabedarrett1301]

The only problem with solar panels is that they're only about 20% efficient

[@CuriosityShow]

Some developed in Australia are quite a bit better than that

[@beta700a]

Also, when the temperature is higher than 25C, the average panel looses about 0,258% of power. In high temperatures total power loss can reach up to 10-25%.

[@89horizon]

Looks like Trump needs to watch this to understand (if possible) how solar power works. The energy doesn't just "disappear" when it's cloudy or at night. :/

[@ntal5859]

Well it does as there is no solar in that part of Earth at night or in shade...hell Rob even showed it to you by putting the cell in shade to stop the motor. So maybe you need to actually watch it again.