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In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce

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KarishmaB
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Re: In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce [#permalink] In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce   07 Feb 2022, 22:09
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Sneha2021 wrote:
Hi Experts,
KarishmaB GMATNinja
Why D is incorrect?

(D) Dye-sensitive solar cells work somewhat more efficiently in lower light than previous solar cell technologies.
The conclusion is based on the fact that more efficient process by new cells leads to lower cost. Now D highlights that the process becomes more efficient in lower light. So there is a factor/condition (lower light) that helps to make the process more efficient and hence helps to lower the production cost. This statement does increase my belief in the plan.
I agree that raw material do play a part in production cost but the author's logic to arrive at low cost electricity is based on the "efficient process" and D focuses on a special condition for efficient process.

Also in C, we need to assume that there would be some cost associated with producing old cells in comparison with new cells. Because if we can produce old cells without any special engineering process, there is no change in production cost.

Please help me to eliminate D. Why C is better than D?

One SC doubt - which in turn lowers the cost. - "Which" refers to what? I think the overall process in turn lowers the cost. A verb-ing or noun modifier would be more apt. Please help me to understand this usage.

Thanks in advance!


The argument talks about new diatoms based dye sensitive solar cells VS current dye sensitive solar cells. Comparison is between two types of dye sensitive solar cells.
Option (D) talks about dye sensitive solar cells vs previous solar tech. This comparison is irrelevant to us so (D) is irrelevant.

Here "which" stand for "more efficient production of electricity". This usage of "which" is fine. In any case, one cannot focus on SC while working on CR/RC questions. An author will not present the best possible structure for each thought/sentence in her passage. Her focus will be on content presented in an acceptable structure, something that will get the meaning across. In SC, the best presentation (from the 5 options) of the content is important.
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In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce [#permalink] In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce   11 Jan 2023, 12:12
Hi AjiteshArun GMATNinja zhanbo avigutman - Want to understand, what is the question stem asking exactly. I could not understand the phrase in the blue.

Quote:
In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce lower-cost electricity, Smith-Diatom is developing a new way to make dye-sensitive solar cells, in which photons strike light-sensitive dyes. The process uses diatoms, which are unicellular algae that have silicon shells with a complex structure. First, the organic material is removed, and then the shells are coated with a titanium dioxide film that acts as a semiconductor. The diatoms' structure results in more photon activity and thus more efficient production of electricity than with current dye-sensitized solar cells, which in turn lowers the cost.

Which of the following considerations would, if true, most strongly support the hypothesis that the plan, if implemented, will produce low-cost electricity from dye-sensitive solar cells ?


** Dye-sensitive solar cells = DSSC

Is the question stem is asking to strengthen the following claim :

(1) Once the plan is implemented, Both DSSCs (Old DSSC and New DSSC) produce cheaper than non-solar technologies. ?

I don't think so.

---------------

Is the question stem is asking to strengthen the following claim :

(2) Once the plan is implemented, New DSSC's will produce cheaper electricity compared to Old DSSC's ?

I didn't think the question stem was asking (#2) either.

Why ? The question stem uses the phrase "....from dye-sensitive solar cells" and not ".... from CURRENT dye-sensitive solar cells"

------------------------

Is to strengthen the following claim instead :

(3) Once the plan is implemented, New DSSC's will produce Low cost electricity - but compared to which device ?
  • The Old DSSC ? OR
  • The non-solar technologies ? OR
  • BOTH ?
  • We can't be sure ?

I am not sure, how to decide unfortunately but my best guess is #3
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Re: In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce [#permalink] In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce   11 Jan 2023, 19:55
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jabhatta2 wrote:
Hi AjiteshArun GMATNinja zhanbo avigutman - Want to understand, what is the question stem asking exactly. I could not understand the phrase in the blue.

Quote:
In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce lower-cost electricity, Smith-Diatom is developing a new way to make dye-sensitive solar cells, in which photons strike light-sensitive dyes. The process uses diatoms, which are unicellular algae that have silicon shells with a complex structure. First, the organic material is removed, and then the shells are coated with a titanium dioxide film that acts as a semiconductor. The diatoms' structure results in more photon activity and thus more efficient production of electricity than with current dye-sensitized solar cells, which in turn lowers the cost.

Which of the following considerations would, if true, most strongly support the hypothesis that the plan, if implemented, will produce low-cost electricity from dye-sensitive solar cells ?


** Dye-sensitive solar cells = DSSC

Is the question stem is asking to strengthen the following claim :

(1) Once the plan is implemented, Both DSSCs (Old DSSC and New DSSC) produce cheaper than non-solar technologies. ?

I don't think so.

---------------

Is the question stem is asking to strengthen the following claim :

(2) Once the plan is implemented, New DSSC's will produce cheaper electricity compared to Old DSSC's ?

I didn't think the question stem was asking (#2) either.

Why ? The question stem uses the phrase "....from dye-sensitive solar cells" and not ".... from CURRENT dye-sensitive solar cells"

------------------------

Is to strengthen the following claim instead :

(3) Once the plan is implemented, New DSSC's will produce Low cost electricity - but compared to which device ?
  • The Old DSSC ? OR
  • The non-solar technologies ? OR
  • BOTH ?
  • We can't be sure ?

I am not sure, how to decide unfortunately but my best guess is #3

jabhatta2 I think it would help you if you could articulate in a short, simple sentence, what the plan is, and what it's hoping to accomplish exactly.
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Re: In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce [#permalink] In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce   18 Jan 2024, 11:01
I eliminated C. Need help to understand what's wrong about my thought here.

I understand the cost reduction coming from the omission of engineering processes. However, with diatoms occurring naturally, I figured there would/could be costs of obtaining these diatoms from nature. And we have no information on how big or small that cost could be, and whether it could even surpass the cost saving from engineering processes. Hence I found option C not indicating clearly enough that the overall production cost would decrease.
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Re: In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce [#permalink] In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce   04 Mar 2024, 15:13
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snehakr1603 wrote:
I eliminated C. Need help to understand what's wrong about my thought here.

I understand the cost reduction coming from the omission of engineering processes. However, with diatoms occurring naturally, I figured there would/could be costs of obtaining these diatoms from nature. And we have no information on how big or small that cost could be, and whether it could even surpass the cost saving from engineering processes. Hence I found option C not indicating clearly enough that the overall production cost would decrease.

­Your concerns are valid, and (C) certainly does not PROVE that Smith-Diatom will be able to produce low-cost electricity from dye-sensitive solar cells. But we don't need proof -- we're only looking for the BEST answer choice. In this case, we want the answer choice that most strongly supports the hypothesis that the plan will work.

The passage talks about production of electricity using diatoms and how it would be more efficient than current methods. So if you have one system using diatoms and another using the older method, the one using diatoms will cost less to run (i.e. less money per unit of electricity created).

But what about the cost of actually building and maintaining that system? The passage doesn't talk about that at all. If you need to spend a ton of money to make the new dye-sensitive solar cells, then the savings (thanks to the improved efficiency) might not outweigh the costs.

(C) eliminates that possibility and thus strengthens the hypothesis. It's not necessarily a very satisfying OA, but it's certainly better than the other four.

I hope that helps!
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Re: In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce [#permalink]
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