Solar Energy on Earth

Front

What type of energy comes from the sun?

Back

Radiation

Front

Why is the Equator warmest?

Back

Because it receives the most direct sunlight.

Front

Why does land heat up and cool down faster than water?

Back

Land has a lower specific heat and does not take as much energy to heat.

Front

Darker surfaces absorb _______________ solar energy than lighter surfaces.

Back

more

Front

Albedo can best be described as...

Back

the amount of solar radiation reflected.

Front

What is solar energy?

Back

Energy from the sun that can be converted into thermal or electrical energy.

Front

What is specific heat?

Back

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Front

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back

The trapping of the sun's warmth in the planet's lower atmosphere due to greenhouse gases.

Front

What is the role of clouds in solar energy absorption?

Back

Clouds can reflect and absorb solar energy, affecting the amount that reaches the Earth's surface.

Front

What is the difference between conduction, convection, and radiation?

Back

Conduction is heat transfer through direct contact, convection is heat transfer through fluid movement, and radiation is heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.