Which term is used for a device that captures light from the sun and converts it to electricity?

Which term is used for a device that captures light from the sun and converts it to electricity?

• A. Solar heater
• B. Battery
• C. Photovoltaic cell
• D. Wind turbine

Answer: (C)

Photovoltaic cell explains how sunlight becomes electricity. When light hits a PV cell, photons energize electrons in a semiconductor, creating a flow of electric current—the photovoltaic effect. This is direct conversion from light to electrical energy, which is why a PV cell is the device that fits the description. A solar heater uses sunlight to heat a liquid rather than generate electricity. A battery stores chemical energy and may be charged, but it doesn’t convert light into electricity by itself. A wind turbine turns wind’s kinetic energy into electricity, not light. In practice, PV cells are built into modules and arrays, and their output is often fed through an inverter to create usable alternating current.

Photovoltaic cell explains how sunlight becomes electricity. When light hits a PV cell, photons energize electrons in a semiconductor, creating a flow of electric current—the photovoltaic effect. This is direct conversion from light to electrical energy, which is why a PV cell is the device that fits the description. A solar heater uses sunlight to heat a liquid rather than generate electricity. A battery stores chemical energy and may be charged, but it doesn’t convert light into electricity by itself. A wind turbine turns wind’s kinetic energy into electricity, not light. In practice, PV cells are built into modules and arrays, and their output is often fed through an inverter to create usable alternating current.