How much do you know about solar energy? Here’s your chance to test your knowledge. Below are 10 questions — all true/false, and all about solar-electric systems. Jot down your choices, then scroll to the bottom of the page to see the answers and add up your score.
The Questions: True or False?
1. Scientists discovered “the photovoltaic effect”– the concept that light could produce electric current — in 1939.
2. Most solar cells are made from amorphous silicon.
3. Solar cells can be made from plastic.
4. Most solar cells are about 60 percent efficient at converting sunlight into electricity.
5. A solar panel produces DC power — an inverter converts it to AC.
6. A typical size for a residential solar-electric system is between 2,000 and 5,000 watts.
7. Net-metering laws and feed-in tariffs are both policies that help homeowners get paid more for the electricity their solar panels produce.
8. Over the course of a year, a photovoltaic (PV) system in Albuquerque, N.M., would produce almost exactly the same amount of electricity as an identical PV system located in Seattle.
9. The United States currently produces more electricity from solar power than it does from wind power.
10. New Jersey has more PV power installed than any other state.
Add Up Your Score!
How many did you get right?
10+: You have the (solar-electric) power!
7 to 9: Well done. The sun is shining on you.
4 to 6: Not bad, but keep working on your efficiency.
0 to 3: You’re still in the dark. Try again!
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