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Chapter 16: Problem 13

since Earth is exposed to solar radiation, why doesn't Earth have the same temperature as the Sun?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The Earth does not have the same temperature as the Sun due to multiple factors: the vast distance between them causing dispersion of energy, the reflection and absorption of solar radiation by the Earth's atmosphere and surface, Earth's rotation which helps distribute heat, and the utilization of energy in processes such as photosynthesis.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the concept of radiation

Radiation is the energy that is sent out in waves or particles. It travels through space and can transfer heat. The Sun sends out solar radiation that reaches the Earth and provides it with heat and light.
02

Understand the distance between the Sun and the Earth

The Sun is approximately 93 million miles away from the Earth. Due to this vast distance, the energy from the solar radiation gets dispersed in space. So, only a tiny fraction of the Sun's total energy output ever reaches the Earth.
03

Understand the Earth's atmosphere and albedo

The Earth's atmosphere also plays a big role. When the Sun's solar radiation reaches the Earth, some of it is reflected back into space by the atmosphere and the planet's surface, especially by ice and clouds. This reflective property is known as albedo. Moreover, some part of radiation also gets absorbed by the atmosphere.
04

Understand the Earth's heat absorption

The remaining solar radiation that isn't reflected and isn't absorbed by the atmosphere strikes Earth's surface and heats it. But the surface doesn't absorb all of the energy from the Sun's light instead, some of it is used in processes like photosynthesis. Moreover, the Earth rotates which causes each part of the Earth to regularly move in and out of sunlight which helps distribute the heat and maintains a reasonable average temperature for the planet.
05

Conclusion

Overall, due to the Sun's distance, the spreading of its energy, the reflection and absorption by Earth's atmosphere, the Earth's rotation, and the utilization of energy in processes such as photosynthesis, the Earth's temperature remains much lower than that of the Sun, despite being exposed to its solar radiation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

At low temperatures the specific heats of solids are approximately proportional to the cube of the temperature: \(c(T)=a\left(T / T_{0}\right)^{3}\) For copper, \(a=31 \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{g} \cdot \mathrm{K}\) and \(T_{0}=343 \mathrm{K} .\) Find the heat required to bring \(40 \mathrm{g}\) of copper from \(10.0 \mathrm{K}\) to \(25.0 \mathrm{K}.\)

The normal boiling point of nitrogen is \(77.3 \mathrm{K}\). Express this in Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Fiberglass insulation for attics is available in 12 -inch thickness. Its \(\mathcal{R}\) -factor is a. 38 b. 76 c. 29

A more realistic approach to the solar greenhouse of Example 16.7 considers the time dependence of the solar input. A function that approximates the solar input is \(\left(40 \mathrm{Btu} / \mathrm{h} / \mathrm{ft}^{2}\right) \sin ^{2}(\pi t / 24)\) where \(t\) is the time in hours, with \(t=0\) at midnight. Then the greenhouse is no longer in energy balance, but is described instead by the differential form of Equation 16.3 with \(Q\) the timevarying energy input. Use computer software or a calculator with differential-equation-solving capability to find the time-dependent temperature of the greenhouse, and determine the maximum and minimum temperatures. Assume the same numbers as in Example 16.7 , along with a heat capacity \(C=1500 \mathrm{Btu} /^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\) for the greenhouse. You can assume any reasonable value for the initial temperature, and after a few days your greenhouse temperature should settle into a steady oscillation independent of the initial value.

Find the \(\mathcal{R}\) -factor for a wall that loses 0.040 Btu each hour through each square foot for each \(^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\) temperature difference.
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