Question

A photocell converts light energy into
A. Chemical energy
B. Electrical energy
C. Heat energy
D. Mechanical energy

Answer 1

The main working principle of photocell depends on photoelectric effect and occurrence of electrical resistance.It basically is a light sensor which can detect the light.

Complete step by step answer:
A photocell is also called a light dependent resistor. It has a property to conduct electricity into the electric circuit, when the light is allowed to pass into the light dependent resistor.
The amount of electricity to be passed into the electric circuit, will depend upon the amount of resistance offered and the amount of the light rays falling on the resistance. A photocell is a semiconductor device. A semiconductor is a material which has the property to conduct the electricity in a given circuit under the application of certain value of temperature and not to conduct the electricity in the given circuit, when there is no application of certain given temperature into the electric circuit.
Due to these characteristics of photocells, the photocells are widely used in various electronic gadgets.
The examples of these electronic gadgets are:

1. Automatic light dependent alarms or sirens, which are used for alerting and sound signaling.
2. Automatic street lights and other lights, which are to be operated in the darkness.
3. Photocells can also be used as a timer and can count the number of vehicles running on the roads.
   In other words, photocell acts as an automatic switch, which depends upon the specific quantity of light allowed to pass over it. Hence a photocell Converts the light energy into Electrical Energy.
   Therefore, from the above explanation, the correct option is (B) Electrical energy

Note: Sometimes students get confused in between photocell and photodiode so always remember that a photocell, also referred as a photoresistor has a resistance that depends on the intensity of light that is hitting it. This is not the case for photodiodes, which light to current conversion depends not on the intensity of light.