Photovoltaic Systems UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Photovoltaics (PV) - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a solar energy technology that uses the unique
properties of semiconductors to directly convert solar radiation into electricity.
Photovoltaics is an environmentally friendly that causes no noise or pollution. - CORRECT
ANSWER- ...
A load. - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a piece of equipment that consumes electricity.
A Utility - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a company that produces and/or distributes electricity to
consumers in a certain region or state.
The Grid. - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the Utility's network of conductors, substations, and
equipment that distributes electricity from its central generation point to the consumer.
Distributed generation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a system in which many smaller power-
generating systems create electrical power near the point of consumption.
Balance of System (BOS) component - CORRECT ANSWER- Is an electrical or structural
component, aside from a major component, that is required to complete a PV system.
Integrator - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a business that designs,builds,and installs complete PV
systems for particular applications by matching components from various manufacturers.
An Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) - CORRECT ANSWER- Is an organization, office,or
individual designated by local government with legal powers to administer, interpret,and
enforce building codes.
Flat-plate collector - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a solar energy collector that absorbs solar
energy on a flat surface without concentrating it, and can utilize solar radiation directly from
the sun as well as radiation that is reflected or scattered by clouds and other surfaces.
, A Concentrating Collector - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a solar energy collector that enhances
solar energy by focusing it in a smaller area through reflective surfaces or lenses.
Concentrating solar power (CSP) - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a technology that uses mirrors
and/or lenses to reflect and concentrate solar radiation from a larger area onto a small area.
Radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is energy that eminates from a source in the form of
waves or particles.
Solar irradiance - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the power of solar radiation per unit area.
Extraterrestrial solar radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is solar radiation just outside Earth's
atmosphere.
Inverse square law - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a physical law that states that the amount of
radiation at points are proportional to the inverse of the square of their distances from the
source.
Solar irradiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the total amount of solar energy accumulated on
an area over time.
The Solar Constant - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the average extraterrestrial solar power
(irradiance) at a distance 1 AU from the sun, which has a value of approximately 1366 W/m2.
Electromagnetic radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is radiation in the form of waves with
electric and magnetic properties.
Electromagnetic spectrum - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the range of all types of
electromagnetic radiation,based on wave length.
Total global radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is all of the solar radiation reaching Earth's
surface and is the sum of direct and diffuse radiation.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Photovoltaics (PV) - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a solar energy technology that uses the unique
properties of semiconductors to directly convert solar radiation into electricity.
Photovoltaics is an environmentally friendly that causes no noise or pollution. - CORRECT
ANSWER- ...
A load. - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a piece of equipment that consumes electricity.
A Utility - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a company that produces and/or distributes electricity to
consumers in a certain region or state.
The Grid. - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the Utility's network of conductors, substations, and
equipment that distributes electricity from its central generation point to the consumer.
Distributed generation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a system in which many smaller power-
generating systems create electrical power near the point of consumption.
Balance of System (BOS) component - CORRECT ANSWER- Is an electrical or structural
component, aside from a major component, that is required to complete a PV system.
Integrator - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a business that designs,builds,and installs complete PV
systems for particular applications by matching components from various manufacturers.
An Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) - CORRECT ANSWER- Is an organization, office,or
individual designated by local government with legal powers to administer, interpret,and
enforce building codes.
Flat-plate collector - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a solar energy collector that absorbs solar
energy on a flat surface without concentrating it, and can utilize solar radiation directly from
the sun as well as radiation that is reflected or scattered by clouds and other surfaces.
, A Concentrating Collector - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a solar energy collector that enhances
solar energy by focusing it in a smaller area through reflective surfaces or lenses.
Concentrating solar power (CSP) - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a technology that uses mirrors
and/or lenses to reflect and concentrate solar radiation from a larger area onto a small area.
Radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is energy that eminates from a source in the form of
waves or particles.
Solar irradiance - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the power of solar radiation per unit area.
Extraterrestrial solar radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is solar radiation just outside Earth's
atmosphere.
Inverse square law - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a physical law that states that the amount of
radiation at points are proportional to the inverse of the square of their distances from the
source.
Solar irradiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the total amount of solar energy accumulated on
an area over time.
The Solar Constant - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the average extraterrestrial solar power
(irradiance) at a distance 1 AU from the sun, which has a value of approximately 1366 W/m2.
Electromagnetic radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is radiation in the form of waves with
electric and magnetic properties.
Electromagnetic spectrum - CORRECT ANSWER- Is the range of all types of
electromagnetic radiation,based on wave length.
Total global radiation - CORRECT ANSWER- Is all of the solar radiation reaching Earth's
surface and is the sum of direct and diffuse radiation.
