A panel that produces an electric charge when exposed to sunlight is called a

• A. Solar thermal collector
• B. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel
• C. Photoelectric sensor
• D. Solar panel array

Answer: (B)

When light interacts with a semiconductor to produce electricity, that is the photovoltaic effect. A panel that generates an electric current when exposed to sunlight is a photovoltaic solar panel. In these cells, photons from sunlight excite electrons, creating a flow of charge through an external circuit as a direct current. This is different from a solar thermal collector, which uses sunlight to heat a fluid rather than generate electricity. A photoelectric sensor detects light levels to trigger a signal, not to power electrical loads continuously. A solar panel array is simply many PV panels connected together to boost overall output, but the item described is a single photovoltaic panel.