The Earth receives power at a rate of 22 Gcalmincm2 Answer t

The Earth receives power at a rate of 2.2 Gcal/min/cm^2. Answer the following questions:

What is the rate at which the Earth receives power in W/m^2

What is the total power from the sun illuminating the Earth at any given time.

Assume the Sun is an isotropic radiator, what is the sun\'s power output?

What would be the RMS electric field strength (in V/m) if all of the Sun\'s power were radiated at a single frequency?

Solution

1) We know that 1Gcal/min/cm^2 = 6.98*10^-4 J/sec/m^2 or 6.98*10^-4 W/m^2.

Thus 2.2 Gcal/min/cm^2 = 2.2*6.98*10^-4 = 15.356*10^-4 W/m^2 = 1.536 mW/m^2

2) The total solar energy flux intercepted by the earth on any particular day is 4.2 X 10¹⁸ Watthours.

3) The power output in the sun is about 4.00 x 10^26W.