Harnessing Solar Energy

Harnessing of Solar thrust Photosynthesis versus Semiconductor Based Solar cubicle Photosynthesis and equipageconducting material-based solar cells argon two(prenominal) employ to harness solar slide fastener from the sunninessshine photosynthesis for plants and semiconducting material based solar cells for benignant beings. Photosynthesis consists of commence reactions and dark reactions. It is a dish in which carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and light might are applyd to combine an aptitude-rich carbohydrate like glucose (C6H12O6) and to convey oxygen (O2) as a by-product.Simply put, photosynthesis is a growth that transfers efficiency from the sun (solar push) into chemic get-up-and-go for plants and animals. Photosynthesis is a vital process among plants, alga and some bacteria that are subject to create their own provender now from inorganic compounds using light vim so that they do not take up to eat or rely on nutrients derived from opposite livi ng organisms. A semiconductor-based solar cell is devised to switch light to galvanizing current.The solar cell directly commutes the nothing in light into galvanisingal energy through with(predicate) the process of photovoltaics (a field of semiconductor technology involving the direct metempsychosis of electromagnetic radiation as cheer, into electricity). Solar cells do not use chemical reactions to produce electric power, and they contribute no locomote parts. Most solar cells are intentional for transfering sunlight into electricity. In large arrays, which whitethorn contain many thousands of individual cells, they clear function as central electric power stations analogous to nuclear, coal-, or oil-fired power plants.The conversion of sunlight into electrical energy in a solar cell involves lead major processes absorption of the sunlight in the semiconductor material generation and separation of extra positive and negative charges to different regions of the sola r cell, creating a voltage in the solar cell and transfer of these separated charges through electrical terminals to the outside application in the form of electric current. Comparisons Photosynthesis and semiconductor-based solar cells both get their energy from the sun and convert it into a form that is needed both by plants or humans (Vieru, 2007). The firstbornly two steps of photosynthesis involve capturing photons released from the sun and using that energy to create a flow of electrons. From there, photosynthesis involves using that electrical energy to create chemical energy (Stier, 2009). The products of photosynthesis are sugars to feed plants. Semiconductor-based solar cells likewise bugger off photons that use energy to create a flow of electrons which create electrical energy. A final similarity between photosynthesis and solar cell technology is that a semi conductor has solar cells that immobilize energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.Plants have c ells that trap energy from the sun and convert it into reclaimable products (Haile & OConnell, 2005). Contrasts The first contrast is in the conversion of energy detain by the sun photosynthesis converts solar energy to chemical energy use by plants and semiconductor-based cells convert solar energy into electricity used by humans. The solar panels for semiconductors are manmade and photosynthesis comes from a natural process. Finally, photosynthesis has been around for billions of long time do it the oldest technology on earth (Stier, 2009).Charles Fritts created the first solar panel in 1883 which operator the semiconductor has been around for about 229 years a mere zygote to photosynthesis. Thermodynamics Semiconductor-based solar cells and photosynthesis both use the polices of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is the study of the conversion of energy between heat and other forms, mechanical in particular and it has three laws. The first law of thermodynamics says that energ y is conserved, it is incomplete created nor destroyed but can replace form. This is called energy conservation.The second law of thermodynamics says that systems eer tend to be in states of great disorder. As disorder in the origination increases, the energy is transformed into less uncommitted forms. The third law of thermodynamics is usually verbalize as a definition the entropy of a perfect crystal of an particle at the absolute zero of temperature is zero. Thermodynamics hold in to photosynthesis by plants transforming sunlight energy into nourishment this is an example of the first law. During the process of photosynthesis plants also lose energy because they to not convert all of he energy trapped from the sun into food. Some of the energy is doomed in the process this demonstrates the second law of thermodynamics. Plants needing to trap energy from the sun perpetually demonstrates the final law of thermodynamics because the cycle is repeated. In semiconductor-b ased solar cells energy from the sun is reborn to electricity this is the first law. Because energy is woolly-headed in the conversion, the second law of thermodynamics is apply here. Finally, the cells have to continually obtain energy from the sun which obeys the third law of thermodynamics (Heckert, 2007).Solar energy has been around for billions of years whereas semiconductor-based solar cells have only been around a teensy-weensy over 200 years. In piece of music this, I have discovered that solar energy is harnessed by both photosynthesis and semiconductor-based solar cells to convert energy into food and electricity to be used by plants and human beings. Both photosynthesis and semiconductor-based solar cells utilize all three laws of thermodynamics by converting energy, losing energy, and caparison energy constantly. This shows the many similarities and differences between photosynthesis and semiconductor-based solar cells.