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Related Concept Videos

P-N junction01:11

P-N junction

A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
Energy00:58

Energy

The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy.  The different forms of energy on Earth originate from the Sun—the ultimate energy source. For instance, plants capture light energy from the Sun, and through the process of photosynthesis, convert it into chemical energy. This stored energy from plants can be harnessed in many ways. For example, eating plant products as food provides energy for our body to function, and burning wood or coal...
Potential Energy00:52

Potential Energy

The energy stored by a structure and location of matter in space is called potential energy. For instance, raising a kettlebell changes its spatial location and increases its potential energy. Similarly, a stretched rubber band contains potential energy which, under certain conditions, can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy.
Chemical bonds that form attractive forces between atoms also contain potential energy, called chemical energy. When a chemical reaction...
Potential Energy01:09

Potential Energy

A conservative force, such as a gravitational or elastic force, gives the body the capacity to do work. This capacity, measured as the potential energy, depends on the body's location or “position” relative to a fixed reference position or datum. The gravitational potential energy is considered zero at the reference point. Suppose a body is located at some vertical distance above a fixed horizontal reference or datum. In that case, the weight of the body has positive gravitational potential...
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis01:34

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The light reactions of photosynthesis assume a linear flow of electrons from water to NADP+. During this process, light energy drives the splitting of water molecules to produce oxygen. However, oxidation of water molecules is a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction and requires a strong oxidizing agent. This is accomplished by the first product of light reactions: oxidized P680 (or P680+), the most powerful oxidizing agent known in biology. The oxidized P680 that acquires an electron from the...
First Law of Thermodynamics00:37

First Law of Thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. This can be demonstrated within a classic food web where light energy from the sun is harnessed as radiant energy by plants, converted into chemical energy, and stored as complex carbohydrates. The vegetation is then consumed by animals and during the digestion process, the sugars release energy as heat. The sugars also produce chemical energy that either gets used up doing work, stored in...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Structural Design and Manufacturing of a Cruiser Class Solar Vehicle
14:57

Structural Design and Manufacturing of a Cruiser Class Solar Vehicle

Published on: January 30, 2019

Solar energy: principles and possibilities.

Christopher J Rhodes1

  • 1Fresh-Lands Environmental Actions, Reading, UK. cjrhodes@fresh-lands.com

Science Progress
|March 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary

The world needs alternative energy sources due to fossil fuel depletion. Solar power offers vast potential, but challenges remain in meeting thermal energy needs and electrifying transportation for a sustainable global economy.

Area of Science:

  • Renewable Energy
  • Sustainable Development
  • Energy Policy

Background:

  • Impending global fossil fuel scarcity, particularly oil, necessitates urgent exploration of alternative energy solutions.
  • The Sun provides 174 petawatts (PW) of energy annually to Earth's atmosphere, vastly exceeding current global human energy consumption.
  • Current energy infrastructure heavily relies on fossil fuels, creating vulnerabilities in the face of dwindling reserves.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore diverse solar energy harvesting technologies and their practical efficiency.
  • To assess the feasibility of space-based solar power.
  • To address the challenge of meeting non-electric (thermal) energy demands and the implications for transportation and global economy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of various solar energy technologies, including photovoltaics (PV), thin film solar cells, quantum dot cells, concentrating PV, and thermal solar power.

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Experimental System of Solar Adsorption Refrigeration with Concentrated Collector

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  • Consideration of space-based solar power systems.
  • Analysis of energy consumption patterns, distinguishing between electricity and thermal power.

    • Main Results:

    • Solar energy technologies, such as advanced PV and thermal power stations, offer practical means to harness solar radiation.
    • Space-based solar power presents a potential, albeit complex, avenue for energy generation.
    • Significant challenges exist in meeting the 80% of global energy demand that is thermal, not electric.

    Conclusions:

    • While solar power can meet electricity demands, it does not inherently solve the thermal energy deficit or the transportation sector's reliance on fossil fuels.
    • Transitioning to solar energy requires significant advancements in electrification, particularly for transportation, which faces time and resource constraints.
    • The limitations of solar energy in replacing fossil fuels for all energy needs may lead to economic globalization's contraction and a shift towards localized communities.