A study of a solar eclipse using a photocell

Um estudo do eclipse solar usando foto-célula

ARTIGOS GERAIS

A study of a solar eclipse using a photocell

Um estudo do eclipse solar usando foto-célula

J.A. Liendo; G.H. Chacín

Physics Department, Simón Bolívar University, Caracas, Venezuela

^{Endereço para correspondência}

ABSTRACT

In this work we measured light intensity as a function of time during a total solar eclipse using a solar cell. The measured intensity was corrected for the detector response and compared with a mathematical expression that represents the uncovered apparent area of the solar disk as a function of time. By no means, this corrected intensity is linearly related to the uncovered area, this being due to effects such as the solar corona luminosity, the limb darkening and light scattered in the atmosphere. Estimates of the fraction of light that causes this deviation from linearity are given.

Keywords: solar eclipse, light intensity measurements, calibration, photocell.

RESUMO

Neste trabalho, medimos a intensidade da luz como função do tempo durante um eclipse total do Sol usando uma célula solar. A intensidade medida foi ajustada pela resposta do detector e comparada com uma expressão matemática que representa a área aparente não coberta do disco solar como função do tempo. De nenhum modo, esta intensidade ajustada está linearmente relacionada à área não coberta, sendo devida a efeitos tais como a luminosidade da coroa, escurecimento do limbo e a luz espalhada na atmosfera. Estimativas da fração de luz que causa este desvio da linearidade são dadas.

Palavras-chave: eclipse solar, medida de intensidade da luz, calibração, foto-célula.

1. Introduction

Anybody observing a solar eclipse for the first time would perhaps expect a proportional relationship between light intensity and the uncovered apparent area of the sun. Although it is well known that the eye adjusts to ambient lighting conditions and its response is highly non-linear, it was notorious, to the naked eye, that light intensity was high even when the solar disk was appreciably covered. Only few minutes before the beginning of totality, a significant intensity decrease occurred. This observation was consistent with the readings of the solar cell we used in this work.

In the theoretical section, we work out an expression for the uncovered apparent area of the solar disk as a function of time. In the experimental section, we present the simple equipment we used to measure light intensity and detector response. From a discussion based on both the measured light intensity and the theoretical area mentioned above, we show the existence, at sea level, of an excess of light relative to the light that would be detected if the solar disk were a homogeneous light emitter and contributions such as the solar corona luminosity and light scattered in the atmosphere did not exist. Finally, we propose estimates for the fraction of this light excess as a function of time during the eclipse by use of a simple model.

2. Theory

We aim to deduce a formula for the uncovered apparent solar area, A, as a function of the penetration length, x, defined in Fig. 1. Although the sun is bigger than the moon, the fact that it is proportionally farther away, implies that both bodies subtend approximately the same solid angle. We define the apparent areas of the solar and lunar disks as the areas of the images of the sun and the moon if they were projected on a screen. Obviously, the sizes of these areas and their corresponding radii depend on the projection device used but they will maintain a fixed ratio between them. In order to obtain the final expression, A = A(x), we define R₁ and R₂ as the apparent solar and lunar radii respectively and introduce the variable and other intermediate ones shown in Fig. 2.

The uncovered apparent solar area is given by

where D₁+D₂ represents the shadow area indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. With the help of Fig. 3, Eq. (1) can be written as

The relationships between the areas D_i, T_i and S_i (i = 1,2) can be obtained from Fig. 3. From that figure,

and from Fig. 4,

where 0 < x < 2R₁. Note that Fig. 4 comes from Fig. 2.

Inserting Eqs. (3) and (4) into Eq. (2)

From Figs. 2 and 4,

After some algebra we obtain

Finally, we substitute Eq. (6) in (5)

In order to obtain a relationship between R₁ and R₂, we measure the time to reach totality (T = 90 min) and totality duration (t = 205 s; from b to d in Fig. 5) approximately. Using Fig. 5, we can write

and

where n is the velocity with which the lunar disk moves across the sky blocking the solar disk. From (9) and (10), we get

Inserting the values given above, we have approximated R₂ to 1.04R₁.

3. Experimental

The experiment was carried out on February 26, 1998, in Playa Tiraya, Paraguaná Peninsula, Venezuela (12^o 2' North, 69^o 50' east). We used a rectangular (7 cm x 4 cm) solar cell connected to a multimeter. The cell was placed on a table facing the entire sky. Figure 6 shows the voltage reading as a function of time as the eclipse progressed.

In order to convert the measured voltage to light intensity, we constructed a simple calibration device consisting of a parallelepiped cardboard box with a cross section of 38 cm x 38 cm and a height of 120 cm, as shown in Fig. 7. The detector was fixed at the inner bottom of the box and a window was opened at the top to let the solar light in. To be able to reduce the light intensity by known quantities, we constructed filters that were added one by one at different positions inside the calibration box. Each filter consisted of a piece of mosquito netting attached to a rectangular cardboard frame. From the observation of the netting under a microscope, we concluded that it was fairly regular (with 1.2 mm x 1.7 mm openings in average). In a 300 mm x 235 mm piece of netting, we counted 157 x 162 openings, allowing us to estimate the ratio of the opened area to the total area of the netting to be approximately 0.74 which represents the attenuation of light intensity per filter. Figure 8 shows the calibration curve obtained that represents the cell response to the overall light intensity. The voltage, V, and light intensity, I, have been normalized to their corresponding maximum values V₀ and I₀ respectively. Point A was obtained with no filter, point B with one filter and so on. This simple calibration allowed us not to worry about the cell response to every wavelength contained in the detected light.

4. Results and discussion

Figure 9 shows graphs of the nomalized light intensity, I/I₀, and the normalized uncovered apparent solar area, A/A₀, as a function of time during the eclipse (from the beginning of the eclipse until the beginning of totality). For each V/V₀ value obtained from the eclipse data (Fig. 6), we determined the corresponding I/I₀ value using the calibration curve shown in Fig. 8. The rapid intensity changes during the last two minutes before totality (see Fig. 6) made the collection of reliable data very difficult during that period. The fact that the curves are different was expected as mentioned earlier. The I/I₀ curve runs well above the A/A₀ curve. This is due to light, reaching the detector, originated in the solar corona and also, indirect light scattered by the terrestrial atmosphere and interplanetary dust. In addition, the limb darkening (the observational fact that the light intensity decreases towards the rim of the solar disk) plays an important role (1). The purpose of this work was not to quantify each one of these contributions but to estimate their overall effect.

In a simple model where light reaching the detector comes directly only from the uncovered solar area and the solar disk is assumed to be a homogeneous light emitter, one could assume

but considering the effects mentioned in the previous paragraph, we could write

where I^*/I₀ represents the fraction of light originated from the solar corona, limb darkening and light scattering with f possibly being a function of the uncovered solar area satisfying 0 < f < 1. Note in Fig. 9, for example, that when a half of the solar disk is covered (A/A₀ = 0.5) at t = 53 min, the measured light intensity is not reduced to a half. On the contrary, I/I₀ = 0.76. The minimum contribution of I^*/I₀ occurs for f-values close to 1 which means

Figure 10 shows the ratio (I/I₀ - A/A₀)/(I/I₀) = I^*/I as a function of time. It is clearly observed that the percentage of light coming from the effects mentioned earlier increases as the sun is blocked out during the eclipse. Note that it amounts to about 34% when A/A₀ = 0.5 at t = 53 min.

5. Conclusions

In this work, we have determined light intensity as a function of time during a total solar eclipse observed in the Caribbean area on February 26, 1998. From a comparison between the measured intensity and a theoretical expression for the uncovered apparent solar area, we have shown that these quantities are not linearly related. This has been interpreted as due to the detection, at sea level, of light that does not come directly from the solar disk, originated in the solar corona and light (from the solar disk or the corona) scattered by the atmosphere. The thickness variations of the atmosphere should be considered. Also, the limb darkening contributes to produce the divergence from linearity mentioned above. We found that as the eclipse progressed, the fraction of excess light, I^*/I, reaching the earth surface increased from at least 0.3 (when the solar disk was half covered) to 0.8 when the eclipse was close to the beginning of totality. The drastic decrease of light intensity observed two minutes before the beginning of totality, did not permit us to obtain reliable data during that period.

The low cost of the measuring devices (a solar cell + voltmeter) and materials used to make the calibration box (cardboard and mosquito netting) indicates that studies involving the determination of solar light intensity can be easily implemented. No deep knowledge in physics and mathematics is required for anybody to reproduce the steps of this experience successfully. However, the importance of a calibration (to convert a measured quantity such as a voltage into a physical variable of interest such as an intensity) is taught. In addition, the simplicity of the calibration process, including the making of the calibration box and filters, can be used to encourage high school and college students to search for simple and cheap solutions in order to study scientific problems apparently difficult.

Acknowledgments

We thank undergraduate student Valentina Urrutia for her cooperation during the calibration measurements, the elaboration of the figures and the time she spent with us discussing several aspects of this work.

Recebido em 12/07/04; Aceito em 13/09/04

• [1] J.M. Pasachoff, Contemporary Astronomy (Saunders Golding Sunburst Series, W.B Saunders Company, 1977).

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  20 Apr 2005
• Date of issue
  Dec 2004

History

• Accepted
  13 Sept 2004
• Received
  12 July 2004