Questions and Answers
What percentage of the sun’s energy comes in the form of visible light rays?
41%
What is the approximate number of days it takes the Earth to complete one full revolution around the sun?
365.25 days
What is the primary source of energy on our planet?
Insolation
What occurs when the sun's rays strike the Earth at a perpendicular angle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the closest point in the Earth's orbit around the sun?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the duration of the Earth's rotation on its axis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the rate of energy received by a planet from the sun?
Signup and view all the answers
During which days would the Earth's axis be tilted at its maximum angle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary reason for the difference in daylight hours between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the intensity of incoming solar radiation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of measuring the solar constant outside Earth's atmosphere?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the relationship between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary form of energy radiated by the sun into space?
Signup and view all the answers
What proportion of the sun's energy falls within the visible spectrum?
Signup and view all the answers
At what speed does the sun's energy travel through space?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the range of wavelengths that includes all forms of the sun's energy?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is it important to measure the solar constant outside Earth's atmosphere?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of radiation has the shortest wavelength?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the type of radiation emitted by the Earth's surface?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of radiation is associated with the visible spectrum?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the type of radiation that is used for broadcasting purposes?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of radiation has the longest wavelength?
Signup and view all the answers
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Study Notes
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
- The sun radiates electromagnetic energy at the speed of light in a range of wavelengths.
- About 41% of the sun's energy comes in as light rays that we can see, called the visible spectrum.
- The visible spectrum has specific wavelength bands that distinguish different colors.
Solar Radiation
- Solar radiation includes: Shortwave (SW) radiation, Gamma X-rays, Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, Visible light, Near infrared (IR) radiation, Longwave (LW) terrestrial radiation, Thermal infrared (IR) radiation, Microwaves, and TV and radio waves.
Earth's Movement in Space: Rotation and Revolution
- Rotation: Turning of Earth on its axis, which takes approximately 24 hours.
- Revolution: Movement around the sun, which takes approximately 365.25 days.
- Perihelion: The Earth's closest approach to the sun.
- Aphelion: The Earth's farthest distance from the sun.
- The speed of rotation varies depending on latitude.
- The circle of illumination affects the amount of daylight hours.
Insulation, Sun Angle, and Duration
- Insolation: Incoming solar radiation, which is the main source of energy on our planet.
- Seasonal variations in temperature are primarily due to fluctuations in insolation.
- A location receives more insolation if the sun's rays strike at a:
- Direct angle
- Perpendicular angle
- High altitude
- Low latitude
- Insolation changes the weather in certain locations.
The Earth-Sun System
- The sun radiates energy into space at an almost steady rate.
- A planet's rate of receiving energy from the sun is known as the solar constant.
- The solar constant has been measured with great precision outside Earth's atmosphere by satellites.
