Solar Panel Angle Calculation: How to Maximize Efficiency

What angle does the sun hit a 6ft x 4ft solar panel if it gathers 80W of power with an efficiency of 0.25 and the sun's intensity is 1360 W/m²?

a. 89⁰
b. 7°
c. 2⁰
d. 84⁰

Answer:

The angle at which the sun hits the 6ft x 4ft solar panel, given an efficiency of 0.25 and the sun's intensity of 1360 W/m², is approximately 7°.

Explanation:

To maximize the efficiency of a solar panel, it is essential to understand the angle at which the sun hits the panel. In this scenario, the solar panel gathers 80W of power with an efficiency of 0.25 and the sun's intensity is 1360 W/m².

Firstly, we need to calculate the incident power on the solar panel by multiplying the intensity of the sun by the area of the panel. Converting the dimensions from feet to meters, we get an area of 2.23m².

Next, we calculate the actual power output of the solar panel by multiplying the incident power with the efficiency, resulting in 759.2 W.

Utilizing the trigonometric relationship between power and intensity, we can determine the angle at which the sun hits the solar panel. By taking the inverse cosine of the ratio of the actual power output to the incident power, we find that the angle is approximately 7°.