Use the simulation in your science or Physics class to illustrate conversion of solar energy to electricity
This simulation helps GCSE Physics students understand how solar energy is converted from sunlight into electrical energy, and what factors affect the power output of a solar panel.
Three interactive sliders let students investigate the key variables:
- Sun Intensity — reduces the amount of light energy reaching the panel, simulating morning, evening, or seasonal variation. Fewer photon particles are emitted and the sun visibly dims.
- Panel Angle — tilts the solar panel relative to the incoming light. At 90° the panel is perpendicular to the sun and captures maximum energy. As the angle decreases, output falls — demonstrating that panels should face the sun directly for best performance.
- Cloud Cover — animated clouds block sunlight and reduce the solar input reaching the panel, showing why solar is weather-dependent.
Animated yellow photons travel from the sun to the panel, and green electron particles flow along the wire to the light bulb. The bulb glows brighter or dimmer depending on the power generated, and switches between Powered, Low power, and No power states. The three stat cards show solar input, power output, and panel efficiency — fixed at 20%, which is the GCSE standard figure for a silicon solar cell.
This supports the following GCSE Physics specification points across AQA, OCR, and Edexcel:
- Solar panels absorb light from the Sun and transfer it to electrical energy
- The power output of a solar panel depends on the intensity of the light hitting it
- The angle of incidence of light affects the energy transferred to the panel
- Renewable energy sources such as solar are dependent on weather and environmental conditions
- Students should be able to explain how the Sun is the original source of energy for solar power
- Efficiency = useful output energy ÷ total input energy; typical solar panel efficiency is around 20%