We plan to investigate the physics of solar panels, focusing especially on the manner by which they are produced, the materials necessary to create a photovoltaic cell, and the process by which these cells convert light to energy. Also considered will be their efficiency, and their efficacy as a long-term “green” energy solution to help lower the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. Are they really cost effective and beneficial to the environment? Our approach will be mostly theoretical, with the possibility of gathering our own data on the amount of energy these cells are capable of producing with a small number of photovoltaic cells. For our presentation, we plan to demonstrate our results and explore the issue in a PowerPoint slide show.