Solar panels are like magical devices that can turn sunlight into electricity! They’re called “solar” because they use energy from the Sun, which is also known as Sol. Scientists also call them photovoltaics, meaning “light-electricity.”

Imagine a solar panel as a big puzzle made up of tiny pieces called solar cells. Each tiny piece can create a little bit of electricity. When you put lots of these pieces together, they can make enough power to light up your home or run your computer!

The more sunlight that hits a solar panel, the more electricity it makes. That’s why spacecraft have solar panels that always face the Sun, like a flower turning towards the sunlight.