Solar car
Engineering & energy
Work at your pace. Take a break between stages; there is no countdown.
You need: paper, a pencil and this lab. A helper is welcome for reading and discussion.Connect to what you know
Your robot needs energy. Explore how a solar panel can supply it and why conditions matter.
Understand it, step by step
- 1
A solar panel transfers light energy into electrical energy. It does not create energy from nothing.
- 2
Our model has two inputs: light level and angle away from facing the light. Zero degrees means facing it directly; 90 means edge-on.
- 3
The output is a relative power estimate, not a real car speed or a battery charge. Real performance also depends on panel type, temperature and other factors.
At 100% light and 0°, our idealised output is 100%. At 60° it is about 50%. If light halves at the same angle, the output halves too.
Pause and predict
What will happen when you tilt the panel while keeping the light fixed?