How do solar panels work? - Richard Komp

[@da7me22]

a 5 minutes video taught me more than what a professor in college has done for an entire semester

[@asyrafebo4609]

agree haha

[@SmallWindTurbines]

To build your own DIY small wind turbine system you should buy a small wind turbine KIT. The only way you can pass electrical and building permits and be successful is to have a engineered and certified small wind turbine KIT.

[@wildreams]

To be honest, I don't think it's his fault. No offence bro, but 1 semester is a lot of time :p

[@WilliamPhoenix27]

Lots of professors are there just for money, they don't care about students.

[@aratosm]

Should have paid better attention.

[@kittimcconnell2633]

We do not need deserts in order to get solar power. Put solar arrays above car parking lots. The United States has 24,000+ square miles of parking lots. Bonus; you get to park in the shade.

[@Garhunt05]

Same goes for most buildings

[@silashellebrand462]

Or both

[@robertl152]

@@MrPinku9 electricity is lost the more it has to travel on a grid

[@NikosPer]

@@robertl152 not if they release or someone rediscover the Nicola Tesla wireless grid - 0% loss ,all wireless....we are still pigs in the farm..

[@brokencookie1]

And if it’s snowing you don’t get so much snow on your car that you cant open the door

[@KnowWhereImGoin]

I would love an updated video on the amount of energy the most efficient panels can convert. A lot has changed in the 6 years since this video was published.

[@goldengaming8678]

yea gud idea

[@wangamanga2128]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4eyn3uNo7GGm7c

[@robertwilber1909]

no real change. under 30% new, immediate deterioration

[@tihammd]

You got your wish

[@binhnguyenthai7106]

I see some new technologies that don't use silicon. But until now, the silicon makes up the majority

[@MrRooney182]

I have an engineering job interview in a solar energy company after two days .. wish me luck.

[@badrinath5069]

😊

[@AAreign69]

Hey it's been 2 or 3 years, did you pass that interview ?

[@jorgeuzcategui5713]

How did you go?

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

Say

[@richsombie]

*[REDACTED]*

[@FEED_EZ]

scientist: the weakness of solar power is a not sunny area Egypt: HEHE BOI

[@omarmessi2730]

فشخ مصر اكتر من تلات ارباعها صحراء

[@ceebad8985]

@@omarmessi2730 الدجاج الدجاج

[@iskamag]

menacing

[@viejaspeliculasfilipinas3621]

Sahara desert: amateurs.

[@FEED_EZ]

@@noobiou515 walls to protect the solar panel from sand, hire a guy to guard it, pay him with Fesikh

[@taylorsullivan97]

The way they work just feels so elegant

[@kabirjalota9866]

i love ted ed. everything is explained in such a calm, smooth and short way.

[@evanrobles1772]

im doing a hw assignment. What is light? What are the 2 major physical barriers to using solar cells? What are most solar cells made from? What from the sun causes solar cells to produce electricity? What causes voltage in solar cells? those r my questions plz help

[@slavicnonatho8062]

@@evanrobles1772 a whole month has passed, F but if you still somehow need answers, google it or watch the fuckin video-

[@zhivebelarus560]

These simple video and calm voice does not explain anything just creates an illusion of understanding. Ask yourself questions where the electric field came from? Why it stops working after 10 years? Etc. You will realize that you really don't understand it.

[@BredBordLights]

yeah

[@BandhanaSharma-zl6qr]

Ye bro

[@thomasfieschi-rose3705]

"There are political factors but for now let's focus on the physical problems." Translation: "I'm not even going to touch that." Edit: why are so many people asking me about the Schallingora Computer Reconstruction Scheme?

[@NostalgicMem0ries]

in other words how usa will spread "freedom" if they dont need resourses :D

[@rgbill5948]

More like: There are political factors *FBI OPEN UP* But for now let’s focus on the physical problems

[@omarbk494]

@@rgbill5948 looool

[@kailashrai3183]

I find physical factors more of a challenge than political.

[@heliosorion2063]

Hes afraid....people are...monitoring stuff like these...

[@elliotfinn146]

I literally just had the question of how they work and I thought, "Maybe Ted-ed has a lesson about it," and I was right. Go, Ted-ed! I wish they used it in school.

[@laundrymat2963]

they do.

[@Rav3r916]

can we just appreciate and give props to Globizco's animation on this? Great job!

[@Rav3r916]

and the background music as well and sound effects!

[@IceblueParamedic]

+Rav3r916 Do you, or anyone by any chance, know where I can buy/download that background music?:)

[@Rav3r916]

+IceblueParamedic Good question. I actually don't know. +Ted-Ed should start putting in links to it for preview and/or purchase. I only know, from the credits, that it was created by Manuel Borda.

[@whiz8569]

+Rav3r916 Most Ted-Ed vids like these have really good animation.

[@anisahadaoui7939]

whiz 85 Fss

[@mike-rayner-videos]

brilliant video my friend, easy to understand and very well explained, thank you , 10/10 :)

[@muhamadtaufikabdurahman3283]

Agree

[@ephraimsun253]

lol.

[@ephraimsun253]

1:56 The mobile electrons are collected by thin middle fingers at the top of the cell. XD

[@smokey1i]

LOL

[@jhoncanole2979]

Just wonderful, I been tryin to find out about "how to build an electricity generator" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Diyadison Penhloe Blaster - (should be on google have a look ) ? It is a good one off product for generating your own electricity without the hard work. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my m8 got great success with it.

[@marcuscarana9240]

I live in the Philippines, a very sunny country but also very rainy. There's a large mall near my city that uses solar panels to power up 30 percent of its electric consumption. I find it cool how they invested in supplying their own power even if only partially.

[@agbarmia-tn1kp]

How tight must we bolt the solar panel on the frame

[@ureene]

I’m getting solar panels when I get my own house

[@thtbest5k4t3]

No you’re not

[@ProdigyGeoo]

Why?

[@rrezonbeqiri5059]

When*

[@thomasd2695]

Chidera they are expensive

[@evqa06]

yeahSOwhat oh look at you. you're so cool.

[@yanglin3919]

There is a "typo" in 1:22. While it is correct that N-type material has more electron and P-type material has more holes, they are by themselves neutral. When we put the N and P type silicon together, electrons in the N material tend to travel across the junction and occupy the holes in the P material, which leads to positively charged N-type semiconductor on the top and negatively charged P-type semiconductor at the bottom (according to the video). Thus the "+" sign should be on top and the "-" sign should be at the bottom.

[@FRISHR]

*Oil and Nuclear companies disliked this video*

[@cnm7558]

nuclear is safer

[@Jeromeyougood]

Stop smoking ​@@cnm7558

[@shaydenprime275]

Safer than solar? Solar literally has zero dangers. Your comment makes no sense

[@deborahholt793]

​@cnm7558 Nuclear is not safer lol 😅

[@minhcanhtruong9139]

@@cnm7558 i wouldn't say nuclear is safer, their risk is alway > 0%, but we can control the risk as low as possible and even the disaster happen, we can overcome it, mostly. Until now, i would rather choose nuclear than solar. Why? because it more effeciency, more stability, cheaper. we may find a way to use solar energy that better than nucler in future, but for now is the reign of nuclear power.

[@kikipepper]

I LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY!

[@kikipepper]

+SaltyPeppers Anyone else learn something ?

[@nermintamim7107]

Did i just stumble on a 1 million subscription youtuber when learning random stuff

[@nateboricha2581]

Kiki do you 😂😂

[@emadag6750]

If you are ambitious to know the working principles of solar kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKqnpWeKntebec0

[@YoungNafteal]

😂​@@kikipepper

[@kevin_parkerson]

"The most common cells are made from silicon, a semiconductor that is the second most abundant element on Earth" Love that he mentions the non-rarity of materials needed to make solar panels since this is something critics often say is an issue with the technology 😆

[@versatilemegamartpltd]

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[@UnknownUser.ar1]

Silicon comes from sand, it’s obvious that it’s abundant.

[@christianv7997]

@@Paonporteur the problem isn’t abundance it’s the way it’s harvested. Cobalt and lithium mines in Africa which is where most companies get there’s uses child labor

[@DC_ABC_123]

@@christianv7997 that's the point he's making doofus

[@FirstLast-pt7bm]

Yet the people don't realize fossil fuels are the limited resource.

[@mohammedftouni6209]

There is a technical mistake @ 1:18. The video mentioned that semiconductor doped with a donor material will have unbonded electrons, and semiconductor doped with an acceptor will have extra holes. That is correct, but this will not make the side with more unboned electrons negatively charged and the other side positively charged. This is due to the number of electrons and protons are still equal on each side. but then, due to the concentration gradient, electrons travel to the other side and combine with holes making the other side negatively charged. The diffusion stops due to the created electric field. So simply, the - and + signs shown in the video are wrong. its the other way around.

[@macboerTV]

These illustrations OMG! Genius.

[@laundrymat2963]

Its computer generated dont get to exited

[@okayge_]

Im writing a paper on this exact thesis and this helped a lot, thanks.

[@Imayebrook]

Plagiarism

[@maddy3852]

@@Imayebrook You don't know this person. You can't know if they're literally gonna rip content out of the video or if the video just helped their understanding of the topic. Also, it's not plagiarism if you properly cite your sources.

[@Imayebrook]

@@maddy3852 But this isnt wikipedia so its not your own words 1 and two theres no site listed

[@hiddenwonders01]

Hello. Did you finish writing the paper? I would love to read it.

[@rajeevanthaliyil5143]

The first person to mention the play of business in this topic. Appreciate your videos

[@StratfordWingRider]

The limitations are not as crucial as most people think Oil and gas are not evenly distributed either, we have vast distribution and refinement networks for those and that isn't a problem. In essence all energy came from the sun and is simply stored sunlight anyway. Piece of wood? sunlight, piece of coal? sunlight... wind moving across a wind turbine, the uneven heating and cooling of the world by the sun....

[@JoeDavis]

+Dan Burrell You can transport oil and gas to where it's needed, can you transport sunlight?

[@stol]

+Joe Davis You can transport the electricity generated from it, which is already happening. I.E Norway selling electricity to Northen England.

[@StratfordWingRider]

+Joe Davis Do you mean like how we burn fossils fuels and then place into a power grid. Sure we can. I don't need a hydro dam in my drive way to benefit from them on a day to day basis.

[@JoeDavis]

Dan Burrell No, we don't usually do that because of the power loss that happens with long distance power lines. We transport the natural gas to the place that needs power and burn it there.

[@JoeDavis]

Dan Burrell Thousands of birds are flying into a new solar "mega-trap" in the middle of California's Mojave Desert, killing the avian lot at a rate of up to one bird every two minutes, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).www.weather.com/science/news/solar-plants-birds-20140818 Just because something has a benefit, doesn't mean that the negatives won't out weigh it. news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/11/141111-solar-panel-manufacturing-sustainability-ranking/

[@nofanfelani6924]

this gives me an idea to make umbrella from solar panel that can be used as battery charging device, so we can walk with umbrella on a sunny day and charging our phone in the same time. btw how expensive is solar panel?

[@peacejohn6162]

Nofan Felani good thinking.. expecting to see you on the news

[@Ahmadabdal_]

i think it will be a bit too heavy/expensive because it will also need a dry battery but if you are saying that the energy is directly transferred from the panels to the phone then it might work!

[@realWannaBeMLG]

Thats one of the dumbest ideas I heard no offense

[@nofanfelani6924]

Ahmad abdal is dry battery really that heavy? i mean is it different than normal battery like the one on the external power bank? WannaBeMLG i know, and that's kinda the point here, you know because people these day loves something dumb

[@iJizzmyPants69]

With how hot it would get, you wouldn't want to be holding that umbrella.

[@aclue.]

Not to mention that every solar panel needs a battery to store energy for the night, charge controllers because the battery needs to be charged slowly because charging it too fast degrades it, and converters for ac/dc, meaning it will be super expensive

[@emerald3324]

Thank you so much for making this video. I had researched photovoltaic cells so much and only through this video did I finally understand it.

[@imdoug]

By far the best animation & background music. I digs it.

[@toxinomic3713]

2:36 this is why i love ted ed. they made this part short and not complicated most company's would've left this part out

[@reemalattar7423]

This really helped me with my research. Thanks a lot.

[@patrickboylolfootball553]

no it didn't

[@creative8d14]

I learn more in a day from your videos than 1 year in school

[@kavishkabartlett4261]

Why would the electron go toward the N junction? If it’s slightly negatively charged then the electron will be repelled and move towards the other junction

[@tokyoegg4435]

ye thats what i was thinking, should be reppelled from the negative N side, going to the P side.

[@niklashalonen9296]

yay he said Finland!

[@bro2801]

+Niklas Halonen congrats my nordic brother

[@biltemamiesruless]

Torilla?

[@Mrjanha1]

+Juhana Kaarlehto Kyllä

[@ahva2280]

yee

[@LaatuMateriaalia]

+Niklas Halonen SUOMI ON UUSI MAAILMANMESTARI! HEI! MAAILMANMESTARI!

[@Alumx]

dat art though! congrats to the artist for beautiful work!

[@PozzAFC]

*that

[@federalbureauofinvestigati2725]

I mean that's how the cycle of technology works an innovation gets created and an invention gets replaced

[@Zizumia]

I always find it amazing how people just somehow come up with inventions like these. Someone was like "Hey, I'm going to make it where we can harness the suns energy! Mayyybe it I sandwich Crystal and Silicon, where an atom will knock an electron from its bond, and there the electron moves freely while the hole stays, we can take that electron and use its energy before it goes back to the hole." Like what the hell? Haha

[@TheFishCostume]

+Lord Zizumias The first "solar cells" were actually made of selenium.

[@MarcioLiao]

+Lord Zizumias With Base Science knowledge, a group of scientist will likely make hundreds of concepts, which the better ones goes to test phase. A process that can take years until something effective, and usefull can apear. Is not just like "Hey! Brilliant idea!"

[@ichbinein123]

+Lord Zizumias - Fun fact: Albert Einstein is the discoverer of the photoelectric effect, and it is what he won the Nobel Price in physics for. It is not exactly what powers a solar cell, that would be the photovoltaic effect, but they are very closely related, and in principle, acts the same way; A photon interacts with an electron, and thereby makes it emit the electron, which results in a direct energy transfer from light into electricity.

[@TheFishCostume]

IchBinEin They still had significant help from other scientists, so I don't think it's fair to give them complete credit.

[@ichbinein123]

TheFishCostume - Heh, that's not what i am saying at all. I am merely stating the fact that Einstein discovered, and correctly analyzed the photoelectric effect. Besides, the scientist who actually discovered the _photovoltaic effect_ was Edmond Becquerel back in the 19th century. But i think the credit is due to the early discoverers, as Solar panels and spectroscopy, among other things, wouldn't be possible, hadn't the interaction and correlation between light and excitation of electrons been discovered.

[@Dduerto]

46% is better than coal and nuclear

[@da40128]

Daniel Duerto These are laboratory efficiencies under light concentration of 300+ suns and the design of such cell is very expensive, and most likely will not hit the market very soon, i think these type of efficiencies are only applicable for programs like the ISS to power their station

[@MrOzzy281]

Thats the best in the world, and cost hundreds of millions to produce. Nuclear and coal are much cheaper than this technology. So if you want every household to spend millions on solar panels that are only 5% efficient, go for it. But don't force it upon anyone. I personally prefer nuclear as it is clean. As solar technology develops it will be a good option, but right now it is very expensive an inefficient.

[@Dduerto]

Atlas Shrugged actually france shut their nuclear plans down bc they were more expensive to actually create an efficient nuclear plant.

[@curiosityzero2151]

you say nuclear power plants are clean?? Did you forgot about those RADIOACTIVE nuclear waste??

[@MusicalInquisit]

That then safely decays underground.

[@newjeannz]

my science teacher made me watch this.

[@Dantick09]

A solar cell with 100 percent efficiency would be like looking into a black hole?

[@samramdebest]

+Dantick09 100% efficiency will probably never be reached (unless we invent a superconducting solar panel, sombody with more scientific knowlage, is this possible?) but no it would't look like a black hole, a black hole has other effect like space -time warping it gives it really weird effects. Or if you just mean color, yes but only in the visible spectrum. Black holes do have hawking radiation (unconfirmed) which would mean a black hole radiates more light than a 100% efficient solar panel reflects

[@particularlypythonic]

+samramdebest Hawking radiation is not light In fact it can't be photons since it is caused by virtual particles and antiparticles interacting with the real particles

[@zeppie_]

+Dantick09 there is actually a material that absorbs 100% of light (or 99.9%, cant remember)

[@jvaldez97]

By the laws of thermodynamics its theoretically impossible to have a 100% efficient system. Even reaching something like 90% has never been done.

[@particularlypythonic]

+Zeppelans vantablack

[@ynntari2775]

It makes me mad that Brazil, where things are melt by the sun, doesn't have any solar panel. But in Japan, with not even a third of this sunlight, almost every house has its one.

[@vIBEDoUT-Channel]

it's in our hands

[@s0ld1er88]

I am from Brazil and it is true

[@subashini2745]

❤Amazing explanation 0:12 It's a petawatts (10^15) Not terawatts(10^12)

[@joes3534]

I have solar on my house, I only pay a fee every month of 12.99. Great savings and worth it

[@hamidalrawi9723]

How much did you pay to install them ?

[@astikrasgabas]

@yeahSOwhat Depends on how many kw they installed but for 4kw it can range from £3,000 to £5,000. Maintenance is minimal since all they do is sit there. The only maintenance needed is cleaning them to prevent shadowing. Durability can also last up to 30 years easy.

[@astikrasgabas]

@yeahSOwhat No.1. Not everyone can afford it. 2. Oil companies still need money. 3. You still need some kind of backup incase there is not enough energy being made.

[@genericasianperson6405]

Well going by some research you usually start seeing profits after around 7 years of getting a solar panel due to really cheap electric costs

[@astikrasgabas]

@@genericasianperson6405 The year that you start to profit from pv panels depend by the country and the climate. E.g. it will take longer to start making profit in Germany because electricity is more expensive as they tend to use more green energy compared to something like France as a lot of their energy is nuclear which is dirt cheap, and by climate especially during winter as the pv panels tend to be covered by snow especially in North regions. In winter you will tend to use more energy than what pv panels can produce.

[@shalujaiswal2206]

What if we use convex lenses on top of the panels? Wouldn't efficiency increase?

[@monirhasan3248]

*B I G B R A I N S*

[@beactivebehappy9894]

By using convex lenses you are actually increasing the input and hence output will also increase.. but the efficiency which is output divided by input will still be the same!! Efficiency is the property of the solar cell and the solar panel...

[@shalujaiswal2206]

@@beactivebehappy9894 I meant that the sunlight will be focused at a much smaller diameter, which will require a smaller solar cell and thus the production cost will be reduced as the glass required to make the lenses is definitely cheaper than the extra area of the panels. Therefore it will be "cost" efficient.

[@MrTLSfan]

@@shalujaiswal2206 that is exactly what is being done in some solar farms, but its done with mirrors.

[@Ajay-nj4vx]

It heats up the panel and resistance increase. So efficiency decrease. I increases but v drops. Which is same without it.

[@ahsangalib]

The illustration of positive and negative charge formation is misleading (referring to 1:21), when electrons from N type flows into the P type, it generates a negative charge on the P type and leaves a positive charge on the N type semiconductor.

[@emadag6750]

If you are ambitious to know the working principles of solar kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKqnpWeKntebec0

[@samramdebest]

wait a solar panel is just a giant diode?

[@ichbinein123]

+samramdebest - Right on. You can actually induce a current by shining light at an LED, given that it is about the same wavelength as what the LED normally emits.

[@amreladawy3784]

+IchBinEin was a bout to say so, LED but in the reverse mode

[@jonclarke5568]

+samramdebest I guess a Light Dependant Diode would be an apt description for it.

[@Rabijeel]

Now I wait for the first Idiot try to make Solarpanels shine by putting 230V direcly on it.....

[@ObjectsInMotion]

Yup! And *every* diode is a Light Emitting Diode, it's just most don't emit in visible wavelengths.

[@sanchitaabrol]

I cannot thank enough for these Ted Ed videos!! :D Stunning graphics and simple explanations make them the best!!!!

[@nikolaj192]

They should make a new updated video on this. A lot have already happened

[@troublingrain7734]

I had read about PN junction in My class so I wanted to learn more So Thank U

[@tylerspivey9639]

Trying to get an at home job, that’s why I’m here. Glad I came.

[@EpicFox]

We can easily overcome the logical and natural problems discussed in the video, but unfortunately we can't change business and political minds.

[@annina9826]

This epic

[@emadag6750]

If you are ambitious to know the working principles of solar kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKqnpWeKntebec0

[@emadag6750]

If you are ambitious to know the working principles of solar kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKqnpWeKntebec0

[@stormyprawn]

It's not like we can't change these interests, it's just that we have to be properly motivated to force such changes

[@Skip6235]

"Why are we not funding this??!"

[@themightypicklerex7688]

well europe is on it's way. americans are both uneducated and led by corrupt individuals on all government levels

[@Mechadroid-ki7jr]

The Mighty Pickle Rex whoa whoa whoa, not all Americans are uneducated, but don't get me wrong I am with you on the green energy in Europe.

[@themightypicklerex7688]

when your leaders are uneducated and corrupt, everyone is uneducated and corrupt, since the government is what makes the decisions and foots the bills.

[@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333]

The Mighty Pickle Rex Wrong.

[@augustinedaudu9203]

The Mighty Pickle Rex incredibly biased and wrong, first lady really think it's possible to make sure that the homes of three million people are powered when we live in the Northern Hemisphere? European countries have a lot smaller population than us, and they don't have as much space, because they relinquished all their territory from their so they have the ability to only have heavily urbanized areas well in America, ever since Manifest Destiny. There has been a lot of controversy on where should people be able to live when the city gets too crowded because in Europe the people have basically gone abstinent, however in America we still have baby making machines

[@amreladawy3784]

In Egypt we have a lot of open desert areas with 365 sunny days and many power outages!

[@isaks7042]

That's great. Build solar farms and export your energy to other countries and become rich!

[@kelly8859]

Original intro, smooth animation... 10 out of 10

[@laundrymat2963]

The sun: Exists Humans: *Hold my beer-*

[@frankiediaz3758]

Saudi Arabia should invest the money they've stacked from oil and cover their dessert with solar panels! They only have one major population concentration anyways. It's also important we look at solutions to merging solar panels with nature in order to not alter the current ecosystem.

[@kittimcconnell2633]

Good news: The Saudi government is doing this. It was announced in March 2018.

[@duchoang1074]

I think so. Cuz 95% of its land is covered by dust so why not? Plus it's freaking hot out there so this is an ideal condition to install solar panels.

[@GM-wq6kq]

Actually here in the UAE, KSA's neighbour, a small city and research center called Masdar has been established for the aim to be green. My school took us for a trip there. There is a whole field of solar panels for electricity, the subway is lighted with skylights and uses electric cars. Also, the buildings don't use paint so they won't waste money and effort on painting buildings.

[@mantasignatavicius1964]

it is not as good as it may look, for it to be efficient it has to be clean and it may need fixing every now and then so it is not a good idea to make it in a dessert

[@paygo6704]

Frankie diaz it wouldnt really taste nice (This is a joke it was obviously a typo)

[@Hani_x_.]

The best video on how solar panels work . My teacher just wanted to finish the topic😂 but this man ...

[@SidewalkScienceCenter]

I've recently become a huge proponent of portable solar panels. They're a good transition to full-scale solar to prove the concept on a small scale that can be scaled up later. I have four portable panels and some power banks, and take them everywhere to show them off and get people hooked on solar, especially skeptics who want to see it for themselves before making n'y decisions. It's great!

[@sampleoffers1978]

They need to be able to make the light the panels absorb...either without heat, or heat that powers magnetism enough to suspend light over the panel....Lenses can magnify light, and spectrums can be duplicated...Panels should usable indoors and stacked up...not chasing the sun, needs to be the evolution. Glowing tee shirts convince me light can be harnessed for closed system panels, probably from chemically or magnetically treated particles.

[@stephaniemand]

I love this channel so much! Thank you for providing such knowledge freely for everyone. I think I've gathered way more useful information through this channel than by wasting my valuable life-time at school. It's such a shame how the education system is limited in the choice of topics and aren't even relevant to our own needs. There is so much to learn about life and the world we live in and to be able to learn a bit by a well-explained and visually stimulating video, is beyond fantastic. Much love, from Belgium. x

[@introman1016]

I'm a 29y.o. health worker in the Philippines. I haven't seen one house here with solar Panels and I feel like pursuing this. Wish I took Electrical engineering but I'm willing to learn, this is my vision and I really feel this is the future.

[@cristianostephen797]

wow great idea and would like to wish you. This will be helpful to you. Just read. www.digistore24.com/redir/257573/CristianoStephen/

[@mtahasyed]

They really called us Seattle homies out like that :(

[@YellowboycageDCage]

Qqq

[@gabri7613]

I've been to Seattle only in The Last Of Us 2

[@جعفرِ-ه4ي]

@@gabri7613 really unique area for a game. More original than cities like New York.

[@izzylavender782]

Great video! Easy to understand and very informative

[@Hugh2b]

At 4:05, the video says 3 million square miles equals 4.8 million sq kilometers. We know that's wrong since it's a squared term and they didn't square the mile to km ratio. It's 7.8 million sq kilometers.

[@funny_monke6]

The animation is awesome again, and this time the music too! I heard it at the start and immediately liked the video. Then it just got better!

[@mackss9468]

I would have loved to hear how solar panels are produced, where the materials to make them come from, and what happens to them after they stopped working. These are important questions to really understand if this is a viable option for our sole energy source.

[@IqbalSajid]

Well I have built many Data Centers. We don't depend on utility electricity. We always have an UPS to backup electricity failure and right after that we have a Generator to power up within minutes. I have a site where we purchased 1000 liter fuel for Generator 6 years back. But used as little as 80 liters in these years. But preventive maintenance of Generator n UPS is done monthly. So we will have utility power as backup, or maybe for nights. This way we can at least slash down electricity bill to 1/3 for individuals. This may reduce the fossil fuel usage by utility companies. First thing mentioned in this video, the political reasons and businesses who take profits by selling power is the main reason.

[@solartracker9669]

Good explanation

[@arysshearne9603]

The animation in this video was really well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@ANONYMOUS-sx2np]

2:38 _So what's stopping us on completely reliable on Solar power_ Answer : *Oil companies*

[@khorkhoor166]

What is the name of the graphic visuals used here called? eg. Vector. Please help thanks!

[@calcarmichael755]

Tbh, how did someone figure out how to make this?

[@housshil3675]

Its called being smart and listening during physics classes. Also not thinking that Mathematics are useless in daily life helps a lot :D

[@justsomeghostwithinterneta7296]

Great video. Tho you should remember that in the summer we get sun light for almost all of the time (Finland is called the land of midnight sun after all). It's just the winter when there is not a lot of sunlight

[@ilgeneralista8410]

1:32 i don't get why negative electrons go on the N negative side of the cell instead of the positive. Should,t they follow the opposite charge and go fot the P side?

[@PhysicsYogi24]

Correct brother i also have that doubt

[@snehashishbanerjee2575]

1:19 ❌ Positive charges should be on N-side and Negative charges should be on P-side (junction region)! Charge shown here is incorrect...!

[@bigfactsbigstacks6261]

Ty I was so confused on the direction charges went.

[@snehashishbanerjee2575]

@@bigfactsbigstacks6261 welx

[@zenholder5790]

Completely new to this topic so pardon my ignorance; Why is has to be like that?

[@snehashishbanerjee2575]

@@zenholder5790 At the junction region, electrons from the n-side go to the p-side leaving behind the positive ions and holes from the p-side go to the n-side leaving behind the negative ions. This forms a 'depletion region' at the junction. Due to this charge difference, a potential barrier is created! When light strikes at this junction region, electron-hole pairs are created and electrons are attracted towards those positive ions and holes towards the negative ions. Hence, at the n-side, there are plenty of electrons and similarly pleanty of holes at the p-side! This creates a potential difference b/w p and n side (that's what we exactly need here!). And, when an external load is applied to it, electrons flow from n-side to the p-side, and by convention, current from p-side to n-side! Hope this will clear your doubt :)

[@zenholder5790]

@@snehashishbanerjee2575 So basically the collected rays goes through this junction region to then ended up transformed into electricity by the movements of electrons from p-side and so n-side (like a battery)? I'm a freshman trying to figure out most of the holes that my teacher doesn't explain enough. This really helpful! Thank you

[@Adam-jo3tr]

You sir have successfully converted me to a solar power activist boi

[@uncreative5766]

My parents made the switch to solar this year and it's been nothing short of fantastic. Other than one day where it rained, it's been consistently 40+ kWh a day all spring.

[@krowned_ily]

Lol I'm watching this in class rn and I looked this video up on my phone lolol

[@gav8ngouschuk683]

Well did you pass it's been 9 months

[@osamashakeeb7194]

We can use other ways plus using solar panels. We need to use more renewable energy

[@MattH-l3i]

No we need sustainable energy. The population at present and the growth of the population will deem renewable energy such as wind and solar insufficient. For personal use such as cars, homes and private businesses yes it will work. But as the sole power source is absurd and will result in blackouts due to insufficient supply to demand. We need fusion energy, we are focusing too much resources to the wrong area.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

wind power

[@MarkPineOfficial]

Agreed 🦄

[@michaelesposito2629]

Nuclear

[@MrPavePaws]

"other ways" But you offer no solutions. You are the typical protester who chants CHANGE but has no plans or models for it.

[@Al_Qaswa-l8u]

Sometimes I even wonder that how YT teaches us in a calm and soothing way .. On the other hand we are taking that headache to get understanding in classes that gonna never work and giving us extra bonus :) Obsessive compulsive disorder + Cognitive behavior... like what to do..

[@radityaardiw2775]

I make presentation about solar cell just from here, and that's enough I really satisfied with this video :D

[@radityaardiw2775]

I thank TED-Ed for making this video

[@gabrielalbores846]

So cool! I'm doing a causal argumentative essay on solar energy/power for college and this is exactly what's in my content. There are other factors too like heat absorption and utilizing the thermal energy as well!

[@junrelsapanta3357]

We have our own solar power system in our house here in the Philippines and it's working 24/7 since we are not connected to the electrical company. Because of this we don't have to pay our electric bill. It's really amazing having unlimited energy with your appliances without thinking about your electricity bill, but you need to have a maintenance once or twice a month for its durability and longevity for usage.

[@Meso.Botamia]

Bro unlocked unlimited energy cheat code

[@wintertornado]

3 large solar plants at 3 different deserts. If one is in the night the others will power the population, if all three go out we use coal, or a rationed amount of power. One in the Mexican Desert, Gobi Desert, and African Desert.

[@gibbo_1061]

Maybe one in Australia because we have summer when northern hemisphere has snow. But good idea, but they would have to be huge.

[@gibbo_1061]

+LewisTheAussie wait deserts don't have snow........

[@R41N3LLGaming]

+LewisTheAussie Antarctica is technically a polar desert.

[@PhantomX1234567890]

+Winter heat decrease the efficiency of solar panel =x

[@Rabijeel]

+Winter Transferring the Energy from cenbtralized places will cost too much loss. Also the Place is not optimal in the desert regarding efficiency and maintenance. Third, you screw up the whole termodynamics of the planet with that. So, in fact, your Idea sounds good but will be in reality like spending recources in a unefficient Project which will cause disasters on a global scale.

[@aasees7843]

The P and N stands for positive and negative charge, but we'll make it complicated and say P and N

[@apocraphontripp4728]

I think the problem is the plastics used, which may oxidize and yellow over time, causing a loss in function.

[@Yxkenzor]

True

[@michaelfrey3232]

Our class comments: "We can power the whole world with solar power. That's amazing!" ~Cole

[@thunderousavenger7437]

thank you for explaining this ^^

[@emlo3629]

I used this video on my science fair, and it helped ALOT,

[@VoltsRu]

The whole principle of operation of solar panels is very clearly explained:) Really helpful video!

[@joshuagonzales9708]

Great visualization.

[@ikaschannel1823]

You're video is so amazing, can i use your video for my thesis?

[@tmalonso]

how long before we can beam power from space so that we can put these panels out of the atmosphere where they can really soak up some sun ;)

[@FrostArchon]

+Theo M. You know that technically, the Sun IS beaming power from space right?

[@tmalonso]

HyperFrost but imagine if you could harvest that power outside of the atmosphere, I wonder if satellite orbits could be planned out to allow for additional solar exposure than what would normally be possible from an Earthly perspective...allowing for power harvesting on a more continuous basis...Nikola Tesla wirelessly transmitted power over a distance, I'm curious to see if it could be scaled up ;)

[@Rabijeel]

+Theo M. Yeah, imagine that this Transfer had to be done anyhow. That you not only raise the efficiency, you also exclude normal interactions of the effects you prevent if not placing the Panel in a way they only use Energy which would normally pass Earth. It's like plaster the Sahara with Panels: Sounds nice, but would be a very bad idea because it changes thermodynamics on a global level. That would be like cutting off the Gulf stream for using its Power for underwaterturbines entirely. The centralized refining of energy in big amounts is not the solution, it is the spreaded selfsustaining distribution which will work best without any bigger interferences. Like if I tip you on your back a whole day: Annoying, but still less harming as if I gathered all the kinetic force in one blow dealt only once per day. Teslas transmission was astonishing, but the energycost and efford was horrendous, not to speak of the sideeffects this would have on a planetary scale. HARP in the wildest dreams of some 5Star will look like childs play against this device. Humanity started to gather information and store it for later processing and reevaluating of further information in an efficient golbal scale. And the first thing we should learn from this information which needed more than one lifespan is, that we should really think first before doing something like this. Industry and Engines were great advance, but caused a pollution which destroyed already big parts of our Planets ecosystem we also rely on as living beeing. Nuclear Power did promised a clean way, too good to be true - and it was too good to be true. We still do not know how to store the remains safely without making the costs of the system exeed the benefits from it. Even nowadays, it would be cheaper to make somebody run in a barrel for 10€ per hour than paying for the sealing of the Atomic waste. And I do not speak of the risks. So, after all, we should be DAMN careful not to break something if we try to do such a step like orbital solar panels. Indeed, I would prefer a noncritical mass of Hydrogen in a Fusionreactor than this Idea of the solar panels.

[@Alexaflohr]

+Theo M. I would say just a few years. China is working on an orbiting solar system that transmits the power through infrared lasers as we speak. Assuming political factors don't slow things down too much, we should be seeing this technology become commonplace within a matter of decades.

[@TheSe7enman]

+Theo M. This is one of those ideas which just do not work in practice. Some system would have to aim at the same spot all of the time, one for both sides of the earth. Furthermore, the solar panels will be blocked by the earth itself many times a day. Most importantly, this only delays a problem, as it is not possible to beam power (without a HUGE loss), and even if we used a laser, power would still be lost and would still have to be converted by solar panels on the ground. Add in the fact that it would take huge costs to put them in orbit and do maintenance and it becomes clear why a guy like Elon Musk calls it a "stupid idea".

[@HyeongSikPark]

Thank you so much for the video. The video was going to teach first- or second-year university students. The basic explanation is properly matched to understand how it works. Because I'm teaching person. Thanks for making video.

[@meetsoni8885]

Tomorrow I am going for interview in Australian based solar company .. Wish me luck.

[@Arun_Kumar_x86]

dude how was the interview ? did u passed it ?

[@charlieangel9705]

I'm waiting until it's cheap enough for me to buy. It would be amazing though if we can use just 1 module that can power the entire house. If we can have a tiny chip that holds so much memory, then it shouldn't be impossible no?

[@neerajbagga9834]

MAYBE IN A FEW YEARS

[@Cynthia_Cantrell]

No. Memory chips are so small because they can put lots of tiny transistors in a small space. Solar panels are limited by the fact that there is only about 1kW per square meter of usable power in sunlight. So even if the solar cell is 100% efficient (not likely in any reasonable time frame) the most you could get out of a 1square meter of that perfect solar panel is one 1kW. My hair dryer pulls up to 1.875kW.

[@neerajbagga9834]

@@Cynthia_Cantrell Oh didn't know. Thanks for the information

[@robymaru03]

Well, there's no big company stopping memory chips from getting more efficient.

[@mikeoxlong4043]

2:21 what is the battery capacity on the phone and oitput of the solar cell

[@technolus5742]

The video says that the direction of the movement of the electron freed by the light (from N to Bulb to P) is caused by the electric field of the N/P junction. But the electric field of the N/P junction has the direction: _electrons from N directly to P_. So why does the electron go from N to P through the bulb, when there is already an electric flow that has the same direction (N to P) and is apparently more direct? I must of have misunderstood something, I'm lost here..... -.- hmmm... maybe the N/P free flow is not so free and the "natural" electrons are drawn to the P side, but get stuck at the junction. And the "light caused" electrons are repelled by that thick layer of electrons which have been drawn to P but are still densely packed at the junction. That would make some sense to me, but I'm still not sure about any of it.. Helpful comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[@dogedoge4547]

I think it's that the electrons are attracted to filling holes. Since in the video,the electron was knocked out of its hole by a proton, the electron moved away from the p/n junction because of opposite force. When the electrons went to the n side, since there's a lot of holes in the n side, the electrons filled up the holes.

[@ridiculousrusty]

I think you're misunderstanding. The N side has extra electrons, not holes. Also, keep in mind that the electron is knocked loose by a photon, not a proton. I agree the electrons are attracted to filling holes, which is why the animation doesn't make much sense to me. Why wouldn't the electron move towards the P (positive) side, rather than the negative side?

[@technolus5742]

Thank you both for the replies. -@ridiculousrusty I understood that part- scratch that... lol @Jenny Ke N = negative = more electrons (electrons are negative) P = positive = holes (holes are just lack of electrons/missing electrons which are considered positive charge in comparison to the neutral materials) (Note, in batteries polarity is reversed by convention, more electrons = positive side of the battery - it's just a convention to avoid a transition in polarity from an early model which was wrong and considered the electrons to be of positive charge.) The atom receives energy from the light and that is what causes an electron to go into an "orbit" more distant from the center and eventually get loose of it's atom (imagine the solar system: ai you knock the earth onto a more distant orbit and if that orbit is far enough, the earth just drifts away because the gravity doesn't hold it in orbit around the sun anymore). P and N are (I think) mixes of silica which other materials (not exactly sure) -------------------- Anyways: from wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-n_junction): "After joining p-type and n-typesemiconductors, electrons from the n region near the p-n interface tend to diffuse into the p region." I think my first intuition was correct, there is a localized effect on the junction, not on the whole material, which creates a barrier.

[@TheEyesOfTheJEagle]

+John Waters hey, im a physicist and tho this is not my field im pretty sure the animator got it wrong on the charges. top half of top layer should be neutral, bottom of top layer should be positive, top half of bottom layer should be negative and bottom half of the bottom layer should be neutral. I think the animator just made a bit of a mistake. If you want it really easy it wouldnt be too wrong to just switch the positive and negative sides on the animation at 1:20 Hope that helps.

[@technolus5742]

TheEyesOfTheJEagle I guess the top/bottom being negative/positive is a matter of notation (conventional vs actual). It seems to be as I thought: the charges drawn to the middle and so they act as a repellent barrier, causing the flow of electrons to be done though the circuit. Sorry so taking this long to answer and thank you!

[@erarung28]

The irony in my country is basically always sunny yet solar panel really expensive and not socialize better like other 4 seasons country.

[@utkarshinireddy7694]

This is so helpful! Wonderful explanation.

[@auntiefunke]

I love Ted Ed

[@Quiscalus777]

The artwork was fantabulous for this one.

[@ecolive4855]

Very good video ... the information helped me a lot

[@Quran_shorts_1446]

I got a renewable electricity ad on this video

[@michaelfrey3232]

"Well, that was awesome!" ~Jared

[@GururajBN]

What are the ecological effects of covering vast areas of earth with solar panels? Effects on the flora and the fauna? Effects on the soil itself? Effects on marine life, if Vast floating farms occupy international waters? I also hear that solar panels need cooling water. If this information is correct, that can raise the demand on fresh water available on the planet. I would sincerely request you to make a comprehensive video addressing all these concerns.