Solar cells and circuits

In association with The Solar Spark at the University of Edinburgh

Solar cell connected in a circuit to small LED lights and a switch

Source: © Shutterstock

Explore how to set up an electrical circuit containing solar cells and how connecting them in different ways will produce different results.

Solar cells need to be connected in an electrical circuit to be able to produce electricity. With any electrical circuit, it needs to be complete to allow electricity to flow through it and power electrical devices. All the wires must go in a full loop from the power source and back again, and if there are any gaps in the circuit, electricity will not flow.

There are 2 different ways in which circuits can be connected: series and parallel. This activity will demonstrate how solar cells can be used in an electrical circuit, and how connecting them in different ways will produce different results.

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