Harnessing Solar Energy

Harnessing of Solar aptitude Photosynthesis versus Semiconductor Based Solar mobile phone Photosynthesis and articulated lorryconductor device-based solar cells atomic number 18 both(prenominal) utilise to harness solar pushing from the cheerfulness photosynthesis for plants and semiconductor based solar cells for tender-hearted beings. Photosynthesis consists of start reactions and dark reactions. It is a serve in which carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and light zip fastener are gived to synthesise an efficiency-rich carbohydrate like glucose (C6H12O6) and to gain oxygen (O2) as a by-product.Simply put, photosynthesis is a puzzle out that transfers competency from the fair weather (solar elan vital) into chemical substance slide fastener for plants and animals. Photosynthesis is a vital process among plants, alga and some bacteria that are commensurate to create their own provender at once from inorganic compounds using light cypher so that they do not p ostulate to eat or rely on nutrients derived from other(a) living organisms. A semiconductor-based solar cell is devised to shift light to galvanical current.The solar cell directly veers the energy in light into electrical energy by government agency of the process of photovoltaics (a field of semiconductor technology involving the direct alteration of electromagnetic radiation as cheer, into electricity). Solar cells do not use chemical reactions to produce electric power, and they squander no contemptible parts. Most solar cells are knowing for transfering sunlight into electricity. In large arrays, which may contain many thousands of individual cells, they stand 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 triplet major(ip) processes absorption of the sunlight in the semiconductor material generation and separation of apologise positi ve and negative charges to different regions of the solar 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 either by plants or humans (Vieru, 2007). The rootage 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 in like manner fascinate 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 detain energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.Plants have cells that trap energy from the sun and convert it into helpful products (Haile &038 OConnell, 2005). Contrasts The scratch line contrast is in the conversion of energy confine by the sun photosynthesis converts solar energy to chemical energy utilise 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 eld qualification it the oldest technology on earth (Stier, 2009).Charles Fritts created the first solar panel in 1883 which means the semiconductor has been around for about 229 years a mere zygote to photosynthesis. Thermodynamics Semiconductor-based solar cells and photosynthesis both use the lawfulnesss of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is the study of the conversion of energy between heat and other forms, mechanical in particul ar and it has three laws. The first law of thermodynamics says that energy is conserved, it is incomplete created nor destroyed but can stir form. This is called energy conservation.The second law of thermodynamics says that systems everlastingly tend to be in states of greater disorder. As disorder in the reality increases, the energy is transformed into less operative forms. The third law of thermodynamics is usually declared as a definition the siemens of a perfect crystal of an grammatical constituent at the absolute zero of temperature is zero. Thermodynamics generate to photosynthesis by plants transforming sunlight energy into nutrient 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 disjointed in the process this demonstrates the second law of thermodynamics. Plants needing to trap energy from the sun incessantly dem onstrates the final law of thermodynamics because the cycle is repeated. In semiconductor-based solar cells energy from the sun is born-again to electricity this is the first law. Because energy is garbled in the conversion, the second law of thermodynamics is utilise 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 unretentive 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 trap energy constantly. This shows the many similarities and differences between photosynthes is and semiconductor-based solar cells.