Physical Science 101
Solar Interactions Study Guide
After the "Solar Interactions" lecture and readings you should be able to answer and discuss the following questions.
What is energy?
What is temperature?
What is heat?
What is kinetic energy?
What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
How does kinetic energy relate to temperature?
How does energy flow?
Explain how heat is transfered in each of the following methods: radiation; conduction; convection
What percentage of incoming solar radiation from the Sun is visible radiation?
Which radiation band (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) is produced in the greatest quantities?
At what radiation band is solar radiation most intense?
What fraction of all incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space?
What are the forms of outgoing radiation?
Which components of the Earth’s atmosphere block outgoing radiation?
What is the Global Radiation Balance?
If more radiation is received than is lost, what are the results to Earth's climate?
If more radiation is lost than is received, what are the results to Earth's climate?
What is insolation?
What is insulation?
Define the terms in regards to insolation: albedo, absorption, transmission, redirection, reflection, and scattering.
Describe the path of incoming solar radiation in terms of reflection and absorption.
Describe the path of longwave energy flow within the Earth's atmosphere.
What does a global energy balance mean?
Define and describe the greenhouse effect.
Where on the Earth's surface is most of the solar energy received?
Where on the Earth's surface is most of the longwave energy lost to space?