Solar Energy Flashcards
System
- ordered and related set of elements
- linked by energy and/or matter flows
Open System
-energy and matter can flow within surroundings
Closed System
-self-contained
mass
measure of amount of matter
energy
capacity to change motion or do work on matter
static equilibrium
stopped
dynamic equilibrium
steady, reversible reaction
dynamic eq: stable
-returns to initial position
dynamic eq: unstable
-does not return to equilibrium
dynamic eq: neutral
-does not move from equlibrium
feedbacks
-input modifies the system which alters the response of the system to initial disturbance
negative feedback
-response REDUCES initial forcing
positive feedback
response AMPLIFIES initial forcing
scientific method
- Observations
- Questions and Variables
- Hypothesis
- Testing
- Results
Earth’s Circumfernce
around 40 000 km
Latitude
- angular distance North/South of equator
- goes side to side
Longitude
- angular distance East/West of central point on Earth
- goes up down
Meridian
-line that connects points of the same longitude
Earth’s Formation
- cosmic dust
- physical collision
- gravity and planetesimals
- proto-planet
Sun Surface
Temperature is ~ 6 000 K
Radiation that Earth Receives (%)
- 47% visible light
- 48% infrared
- 8% ultraviolet, and shorter x-ray and gamma rays
Total Solar Irradiance
1360.8 W/m^2
Solar System Formation (simple)
- small rock particles rotate due to gravity
- forms nebula disk
- center becomes more dense
solar wind
- flow of electrically charged particles from Sun’s outer Corona
- ~3-4 days to reach earth
sun spots
-electromagnetic storms on the Sun’s surface
Weakening Solar Wind Indicates…
that the magnetic field at the Sun’s poles are weaker
Auroras
- outbursts of charged particles
- collision with elements in the atmosphere with particles creates colours
Order of waves, small to big on EM
gamma rays, xrays, visible light, infrared, microwave, radio
Angle which insolation arrives at Earth’s surface determines:
concentration of energy recieved
Direct Insolation on Earth vs Oblique
- direct receives 2.5 times more energy than at poles
- oblique angles hit larger area, energy diffused
Net Radiation
=incoming radiation (short waves)-outgoing radiation (long waves)
Seasonality
-variation in Sun’s position above the horizon and changing day length during the year
Seasonality Determinants
- revolution
- rotation
- Earth’s Tilt
- Axial Parallelism
- Sphericity
Rotation: Latitude & Speed
90 degree, 0 km/h 60 degree, 838 km/h 50 degree, 1 078 km/h 40 degree, 1 284 km/h 30 degree, 1 452 km/h 0 degree, 1 675 km/h
