Question: How do we get energy from the sun

Jess Wade answered on 19 Jun 2015:

Hey kirbykoo, fab question! WE get energy from the sun because we have special materials called semiconductors. This is quite complicated, so try to keep up! there are metals, like copper or the inside of wires, that can conduct electricity. they move little electrons around and carry charges- so when we turn on a light switch the little light bulbs glow. In a special material called a semiconductor there is a special jump the electrons have to make to conduct electricity. So they don’t ALWAYS conduct. When the light hits these materials, the little electrons jump up and can conduct. then, we get the electricity out by leading out the little electrons or the flow of charges. We can change the amount of energy that the electrons need to jump by changing the chemistry of the semiconductor.