Smartphone Light Sensors as an Innovative Tool for Solar Irradiance Measurements

Abstract

In recent years, the teaching of experimental science and engineering has been revolutionizedby the integration of smartphone sensors, which are widely used by a large portion of thepopulation. Concurrently, interest in solar energy has surged. This raises the important question ofhow smartphone sensors can be harnessed to incorporate solar energy studies into undergraduateeducation. We provide comprehensive guidelines for using smartphone sensors in various conditions,along with detailed instructions on how to calibrate them with widely accessible clear-sky satellitedata. This smartphone-based method is also compared with professional reference measurements toensure consistency. This experiment can be easily conducted with most smartphones, basic materials,and a clear, open location over a few hours (methods). The findings demonstrate that smartphones,combined with simple resources, can accurately measure solar irradiance and support experimentson solar radiation physics, atmospheric interactions, and variations in solar energy across locations,cloud cover, and time scales. This approach provides a practical and accessible tool for studying solarenergy, offering an innovative and engaging method for measuring solar resources.