PHOTOSYNTHESIS - SOLAR ENERGY IN PLANTS VS SEMICONDUCTOR BASED SOLAR CELLS, ETC.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Solar Energy in Plants vs Semiconductor
Based Solar Cells Ability to Convert
Solar Energy to Electricity

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Photosynthesis
Strayer University
SCl 150
Online Spring 2012
Felicia McCaw 
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One of the most extraordinary abilities of plant life is the efficient and reliable capability of turning or converting light into chemical energy of sugars and compounds. This energy consists of CO2, H2O and light energy to make a compositional sugar that exhibits successful photosynthesis.
The process of photosynthesis occurs in the plant leaves with no activity in the stems and the composition of a leaf usually has the following components: The upper and lower epidermis, the mesophyll, vascular bundles(s) (veins) and the stomates. The activity of photosynthesis occurs in the leaves and this is where the initialization and processing of light energy is converted to chemical energy. Life of chemical energy and change originates in the stomates which are holes in a plant that allow the intake of CO2 and the release of O2 out. The vascular bundles or veins are the chariots of a plant’s transportation system which involve the systematic process of moving water and nutrients within plants as needed and allows the synthesis of chloroplast to produce the desired end product in mesophyll cells of which is the end result of photosynthesis.
Consequently, as the procession of photosynthesis progresses there are two significant parts that are involved in photosynthesis:
Light Reaction – This reaction occurs in the thylakoid membrane and allows the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. In order for this process to be successful it must take place in the light. Chlorophyll and other pigments in the thylakoid membrane include having beta-carotene organized in clusters and are of a singular purpose in the light reaction. The pigments are reflected in different colors and are absorbent of slightly different color of light and allow the passage of energy to the centralization where photosynthesis is located.
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Dark Reaction – This procedure or process takes place in the stroma which is located in the chloroplast and converts CO2 to sugar. Light itself does not facilitate the process of conversion but the light reaction is the first step that must be processed in order to ensure the dark reaction can proceed normally. Ensuring that this reaction is actualized CO2 and energy from ATP are used to form sugar and is called the Calvin Cycle.
Photosynthesis evolves around the process of converting light energy to chemical energy but is unable to retain or sustain solar cell. Solar cells are incapable of existing in plant life but they still need solar energy for electrical purposes which are generated from these cells. Semi-conductor solar cells are cells that harness solar energy and a convector to generate and convey electricity to produce this effect a solid state electrical device is utilized to produce the photovoltaic effect.
Comparative analysis of photosynthesis and semiconductor based solar cells ability to harness reflect a similarity because both use the sun as a power source, allows the splits of molecules and produce an output of energy. Products (plants, etc.) are able to acquire sunlight through direct lighting when photosynthesis is involved whereas solar cells acquire their power through photovoltaic (PV) panels. These cells allow the intake ability of semiconductors to absorb sunlight and redistribute it as energy.
A solar cell is vey unlike a plant cell because it consists of a semiconductor and also whose principal component is silicon whereas plant cells consists of living tissue or cells that is opposite of a solar cell and does not have a semiconductor. A plant cell is so unlike a solar

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cell because it is animated and the process of photosynthesis is effective. A solar cell utilizes a photon which is activated and absorbed by semiconducting material, e.g., silicon.
The Laws of Thermodynamic applies in both aspects and reflect that they both use internal energy and each facet of evolution personifies some form of work. Since work is defined as action put in motion to effect changes. Further seeing work in action that is equivalent to life itself acknowledges the inner working of the Laws of Thermodynamics and its effect on solar cells and photosynthesis.















REFERENCES

Mader, Sylvia S. (2010), Essentials of Biology, Boston: McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/sm1/lectures/node4.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/photosyn.htm
http://www.renewablepowernews.com/archives/2510