This cache is near a solar operated light. And that was what made me dig up some facts about the topic. Thought you might like to know that:
The latin name for the sun is Sol. Sol is “the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma… It is by far the most important source of energy for life on Earth.” It’s 109 times wider than the earth. Nearly three quarters of the Sun’s mass is hydrogen and the rest is mostly helium which accounts for about a quarter of it. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun)
“Solar power technology … dates back to the mid 1800s to the industrial revolution when solar energy plants were developed to heat water that created steam to drive machinery.
Solar panel history
In 1839 Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect which explains how electricity can be generated from sunlight. He claimed that “shining light on an electrode submerged in a conductive solution would create an electric current.” However, even after much research and development subsequent to the discovery, photovoltaic power continued to be very inefficient and solar cells were used mainly for the purposes of measuring light.
Over 100 years later, in 1941, Russell Ohl invented the solar cell, shortly after the invention of the transistor.
How solar panels work
Light (photons) striking certain compounds, in particular metals, causes the surface of the material to emit electrons. Light striking other compounds causes the material to accept electrons. It is the combination of these two compounds that can be made use of to cause electrons to flow through a conductor, and thereby create electricity. This phenomenon is called the photo-electric effect. Photovoltaic (or PV) means sunlight converted into a flow of electrons (electricity).” (Source: Energy matters - https://www.energymatters.com.au/panels-modules/).
Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=3cWMKvfu_yE to find out what solar panels are made of.
This cache is not on the flat – it is, but it isn’t – you’ll know what I mean when you get there. It’s the size of a medium sized plum. Please replace/add to its ‘camo’ (as required) after you’ve signed it. But please do not jam it in too tight back in it's hiding place. BYO signature marking implement.