Question

Assertion : Photodiodes and solar cells work on the same mechanism.
Reason : The area is large for solar cells.
(A) Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation for assertion
(B) Both assertion and reason are correct but reason is not the correct explanation for assertion.
(C) Assertion is correct but reason is not.
(D) Both assertion and reason are incorrect.

Answer 1

Hint: Both solar cell and photodiode are types of semiconducting devices working on the principle of diodes. A diode is a semiconducting device built in such a way that it restricts the flow of current in the opposite direction of the circuit.

Complete Step by step solution

The principle of a photodiode is when light is incident on a photodiode, electrons are emitted and they start to flow through the conductor. Hence, a current starts to flow and there is a production of electricity.

A solar panel is made of many small solar cells or photovoltaic cells. These solar cells too while kept under sunlight emission of electrons take place and hence electricity is generated. Therefore there is a flow of current.
Therefore upon comparing we can see that both photodiode and solar cells work on the same mechanism.
Hence the assertion statement is correct.
Solar panels have a large area and therefore makes it possible for the solar cells to emit enough electrons to generate electricity for domestic purposes.
Hence the reason given in the question is correct when applicable in the case of a solar cell.
But in case of a photodiode, we can see from the figure that it does not contain a very small area.
Hence this reason is not applicable for the case of a photodiode.
Therefore we can say that the correct answer is option (B) Both assertion and reason are correct but reason is not the correct explanation for assertion.

Note
Solar panels are one of the most effective and demanding sources of renewable energy for domestic purposes. It is environment friendly and very easy to use. Photodiodes are used mainly to detect any presence of light, while solar cells are used to generate electricity.