This Extended Essay explores the effect of color on the intensity of light and
voltage produced when it is exposed to a solar panel. This research is done to find a
better way to produce electricity using a solar panel as in Indonesia, many small villages
still do not have access to electricity and depend on solar panels. This leads me to the
research question of this essay: “What is the effect of color on the voltage produced in a
solar panel?” From this question, I then extend my research to find the effect of distance
to the voltage produced and intensity of light.
This is done by creating a setup with a lightbox as the source of light. Color
paddle filters are used to vary the light color and a track with meter rules on the sides
are used to vary the distance. Voltmeter and lux meter are both used to measure
voltage and intensity, respectively.
After obtaining data and analysing the results, it can be seen that yellow light
produce more voltage compared to the other colors, but this value of voltage is still less
than the voltage produced by white light. Other than that, I observed that intensity are
inversely proportional to distance from light source squared and distance from light
source is directly proportional to the reciprocal of voltage produced by the solar panel.
From the data obtained in this experiment, a proportional relationship between
wavelength and intensity, which is not consistent with the theory that says that
wavelength is inversely proportional to intensity. Unfortunately, there is no relationship
that can be deduced between voltage and wavelength.

Grade: B