How much energy does the Earth receive from the Sun?
The amount of energy that the Earth receives from the Sun is approximately 174 petawatts (PW). To calculate this, we need to consider the total solar irradiance (TSI), which is the amount of solar energy reaching the outer atmosphere of the Earth. The TSI is measured in watts per square meter (W/m²).
To determine the total energy received by the Earth, we need to multiply the TSI by the surface area of the Earth. The average TSI is about 1361 W/m².
The surface area of a sphere can be calculated using the formula:
Surface area = 4πr²
Where r is the radius of the Earth, which is approximately 6,371 kilometers (or 6,371,000 meters).
Plugging in the values, we can calculate the surface area of the Earth:
Surface area = 4π(6,371,000)²
Once we have the surface area, we can multiply it by the TSI to get the total energy received:
Total energy = Surface area × TSI
Total energy = 4π(6,371,000)² × 1361
Calculating this value will give us an estimation of the energy the Earth receives from the Sun.
Keep in mind that this is an approximate value as there are other factors that can affect the amount of energy received, such as atmospheric conditions and the Earth's tilt. Additionally, the TSI can vary slightly over time due to changes in solar activity. Nevertheless, this calculation gives us a good estimate of the amount of energy the Earth receives from the Sun.