Solar Energy Quiz - by TrShweyee

When did humans first directly harness solar power?

• 12th Century A.D.

• 3rd Century B.C.

• 18th Century A.D.

• 7th Century B.C.

Who installed the first solar device to produce electricity from sunlight in New York City in 1883?

• Alexander Graham Bell

• Thomas Edison

• Nikola Tesla

• Charles Fritts

In what year did Albert Einstein discover that light can behave as a particle or 'photon'?

• 1905

• 1967

• 1920

• 1945

What did scientists at Bell Labs create in 1954 while researching the properties of silicon semiconductors?

• Modern solar-electric cell

• Nuclear reactor

• Wind turbine

• Hydroelectric dam

What were solar panels initially used to power?

• Factories

• Rural telephone lines

• Houses

• Cars

By the end of the 20th century, what had made solar cells cheaper and easier to make?

• Decreased demand

• Increased complexity

• Engineering improvements

• Government regulations

Where did solar panels begin to appear by the end of the 20th century?

• In forests

• Underground

• Underwater

• On rooftops

What is one of the characteristics of new improvements in solar cells?

• Heavier

• Less powerful

• More expensive

• More flexible

What is one of the benefits of using solar energy?

• Higher energy costs

• Increased pollution

• Decreased electricity generation

• Reduced carbon footprint

What is one of the current trends in solar energy usage?

• Fastest-growing source of electricity

• Stagnant growth

• Declining efficiency

• Decreasing popularity