| Quick Links Title | Introduction | Electromagnetic Radiation | Photons Traveling to Earth | Photoelectric Effect | Sources |
| Introduction Photovoltaics is the conversion of electromagnetic radiation into electrical current using semiconductor material with P-N junctions to generate electrical power - basically it is the use of solar panels to take solar energy and turn it into electrical power. Photovoltaic cells, or solar cells, are composed of semiconductor material that exhibits the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect is defined as voltage or current created by a material's exposure to light; it is directly related to the photoelectric effect. Electromagnetic radiation is the key component behind the application of photovoltaics, without electromagnetic radiation this process would not exist. Electromagnetic radiation is the flow of photons at the speed of light propagating through waves and/or particles. The electromagnetic spectrum contains multiple classes of rays and waves that propagate at different frequencies and wavelengths which give their unique characteristics; they include gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays, visible radiation, IR radiation, terahertz radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. More simply put, electromagnetic radiation is light, rays, and waves released by the sun and other stars. In this website the processes from the beginning of the photon to the dissipation of electrical power and everything in between will be explored while the science and physics behind them are explained.  
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