Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello,
I am asking a question on behalf on my 10 year old son.
His science project will be due in April.
He had hoped to use a light bulb, place it near a
solar cell/panel. The solar cell would create
electricity, then step up the voltage. The stepped up
voltage would be wired back to the light bulb, creating a
self generating system.
Do you think that this could be done ? Where would we
get the materials ?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks In advance.

Unfortunately, the system you describe is impossible. This is because your described mechanism (in fact, any mechanism) can never be 100% efficient. Energy in your system would be lost as heat caused by electrical resistance in the wires, heat given off by the lightbulb, and loss of light between the bulb and the solar panel.

Though it's not possible to create a 100% efficient power loop, it's still a very interesting basis for a project, and I'd encourage you and your son to pursue it. Rather than trying to create a self-generating light source, your son could test the efficiency of the energy loop. For example, he could investigate this: When the solar panel is exposed to the light from the bulb, how much brighter does the bulb become (or better yet, how much additional current flows to the bulb) as opposed to when the light from the bulb does not contact the solar panel? There are many possibilities.

If you would like to start from scratch, you can find parts online at sites like allelectronics.com. Otherwise, for a simpler project, you could purchase and dismantle a prefabricated system, such as the solar path lights that are sold at many home and garden stores such as Home Depot.

Chris and Ian,
Thanks for the info and taking the time.
Chris, we will try your suggestion.