- #1
Beer-monster
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- 0
Hi guys
I'm flicking thorugh some past papers for an upcoming exam and came across this seemingly easy problem.
"The average intensity of solar radiation at the Earth is 1.4kW/m^2. Assuming the Earth is a perfect absorber, calculate the force exerted by the radiation on the surface of the Earth. The mean radius of the Earth is 6400 km"
Now I know that the radiation pressure on a perfect absorber is equal to the energy density, which is equal to the intensity divided by the speed of light.
[tex] P = U = \frac{I}{c} [/tex]
Given that P=F/A I get that the force should be.
[tex] F = \frac {IA}{c} = \frac {I 4\pi R^2}{c} [/tex]
Although it could be [tex] \frac {I 2\pi R^2}{c} [/tex]
As the sunlight only directly hits approximately half of the Earth's surface. But either way, when I plug in the numbers I don't get the answer my Lecturer gave of 600 MN.
I must be missing something, but I can't see it. If any of you guys can I'd appreciate it.![Big Grin :biggrin: :biggrin:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I'm flicking thorugh some past papers for an upcoming exam and came across this seemingly easy problem.
"The average intensity of solar radiation at the Earth is 1.4kW/m^2. Assuming the Earth is a perfect absorber, calculate the force exerted by the radiation on the surface of the Earth. The mean radius of the Earth is 6400 km"
Now I know that the radiation pressure on a perfect absorber is equal to the energy density, which is equal to the intensity divided by the speed of light.
[tex] P = U = \frac{I}{c} [/tex]
Given that P=F/A I get that the force should be.
[tex] F = \frac {IA}{c} = \frac {I 4\pi R^2}{c} [/tex]
Although it could be [tex] \frac {I 2\pi R^2}{c} [/tex]
As the sunlight only directly hits approximately half of the Earth's surface. But either way, when I plug in the numbers I don't get the answer my Lecturer gave of 600 MN.
I must be missing something, but I can't see it. If any of you guys can I'd appreciate it.