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(a) Calculate the power per square meter reaching Earth’s
Chapter 1, Problem 43PE(choose chapter or problem)
(a) Calculate the power per square meter reaching Earth’s upper atmosphere from the Sun. (Take the power output of the Sun to be 4.00×1026 W.) (b) Part of this is absorbed and reflected by the atmosphere, so that a maximum of 1.30 kW/m2 reaches Earth’s surface. Calculate the area in km2 of solar energy collectors needed to replace an electric power plant that generates 750 MW if the collectors convert an average of 2.00% of the maximum power into electricity. (This small conversion efficiency is due to the devices themselves, and the fact that the sun is directly overhead only briefly.) With the same assumptions, what area would be needed to meet the United States’ energy needs (1.05×1020 J)? Australia’s energy needs (5.4×1018 J)? China’s energy needs (6.3×1019 J)? (These energy consumption values are from 2006.)
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
(a) Calculate the power per square meter reaching Earth’s upper atmosphere from the Sun. (Take the power output of the Sun to be 4.00×1026 W.) (b) Part of this is absorbed and reflected by the atmosphere, so that a maximum of 1.30 kW/m2 reaches Earth’s surface. Calculate the area in km2 of solar energy collectors needed to replace an electric power plant that generates 750 MW if the collectors convert an average of 2.00% of the maximum power into electricity. (This small conversion efficiency is due to the devices themselves, and the fact that the sun is directly overhead only briefly.) With the same assumptions, what area would be needed to meet the United States’ energy needs (1.05×1020 J)? Australia’s energy needs (5.4×1018 J)? China’s energy needs (6.3×1019 J)? (These energy consumption values are from 2006.)
ANSWER:Step-by-step solution Step 1 of 6 Power per meter square is called intensity of the light, Here is the power emitted by the sun and is the power per square meter.