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Summary of the Article: How Photocells Produce Energy
Key Points:
- A photocell is made of semiconductor material.
- When photons strike a photocell, they may reflect off, pass through, or be absorbed by the semiconductor material.
- Only the absorbed photons provide energy to generate electricity.
Questions:
1. How does light produce electricity in a photocell?
When light photons fall on a photocell, they force electrons to leap out of it, and these electrons are attracted to the positive terminal. This process generates electric power and is known as photoemission.
2. Does a photocell need electricity?
Photocells are usually connected to a power circuit to control outdoor LED fixtures. However, there are also photocells that can be screwed into light bulb sockets, allowing any lamp or fixture to operate as a dusk-to-dawn lighting system.
3. What type of energy occurs in photocells?
In a photocell, optical energy from light photons is transformed into electrical energy when the photons are absorbed, resulting in the production of a photoelectric current.
4. Why do photocells need to face north?
Photocells facing north can detect light without being exposed to as much direct sunlight. This prevents components from burning out and premature failure of the photocell.
5. How does a photocell work?
A photocell works based on the emission of electrons when light is incident on it. This working principle is known as the photoelectric effect.
6. What are the three wires in a photocell for?
The three wires in a photocell are for controlling outdoor lighting, passage lighting, and landscape lighting automatically based on the ambient natural lighting lux level.
7. Do dusk-to-dawn lights use electricity when turned off?
Most manufacturers provide instructions on how to adjust dusk-to-dawn light sensors to operate full-time. When set to detect motion all the time, dusk-to-dawn lights may use electricity during the day, but only when triggered by movement.