Which statement best describes solar panels?

• A. Devices that convert sunlight into electricity.
• B. Systems that convert wind into electricity.
• C. Devices that heat water.
• D. Sensors that measure temperature.

Answer: (A)

Solar panels work by converting sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. When sunlight hits the semiconductor material in the cells, photons knock electrons loose and create an electric current. This is the fundamental action of solar panels: turning light energy into electrical energy that can be used, stored, or converted for household or grid use with an inverter. The other options describe different technologies—wind turbines generate electricity from wind, solar thermal collectors heat water, and sensors merely measure temperature—so they don’t describe what solar panels do.