Principle

Solar cells convert solar energy
into electrical energy. The voltage or current that can be reached
at maximum determine their areas of application. The maximum
voltage of a solar cell is the open-circuit voltage U0 at which there is no resistance in
the circuit (resistance = ∞). The maximum current is the
short-circuit current IK. It is reached when the resistance
is zero, i.e. when there is only a wire ("shortcircuit") in the
circuit. During this experiment, the open-circuit voltage and the
short-circuit current are examined as a function of the illuminated
surface area of a solar cell. Then, the solar cell is moved on the
board in order to change the light intensity and to determine the
two quantities once again.