The correct answer is B: 1.4 kw
Only 47% of solar energy reaches the earth's surface, being a smaller proportion of all the available energy outside the atmosphere as anyone can deduct.
Up to this point we analyzed the use of solar energy. The remaining, 53%, does not reach the earth's surface because 30% is reflected into outer space, or 23% is absorbed by the atmosphere itself, causing its warming. There is a change of direction that occurs, when it reflect with clouds, with the ground or by a diffuse transformation that redirects energy back to outer space.
The solar energy that reaches the earth's surface needs to be transformed into another type of useful energy that, in most cases, is electrical or thermal energy. According to this, the artificial processes of use of solar energy can be direct or indirect processes.
ocusing strictly on the use of solar energy, it must be said that not all energy coming from the Sun to the Earth is usable. Only 47% of solar energy reaches the earth's surface, being a smaller proportion of all the available energy outside the atmosphere as anyone can deduct. And why does not 100% of the energy arrive? What obstacles make us lose that valuable energy? First, we must consider it as a natural process and secondly that with the produced quantities, energy "would be more than enough" so the point is not to be focused on "the energy loss". Solar energy is subjected to three effects and / or processes before, during, and when passing through the atmosphere.
- Diffusion
- Absorption
- Reflection