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Chapter 1: Problem 43

Does any of the energy of the sun reach the earth by conduction or convection?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: No, energy from the Sun does not reach Earth through conduction or convection. The primary mode through which energy from the Sun reaches Earth is radiation.

Step by step solution

01

Background on heat transfer

Heat can be transferred by three main modes: conduction, convection, and radiation. 1. Conduction: It is the transfer of heat through a solid material by the movement of free electrons and the vibration of atoms and molecules. It requires direct contact between the objects. 2. Convection: It is the transfer of heat through fluids (liquids or gases) by the movement of the fluid itself. The heated fluid rises, and cooler fluid moves to take its place, creating a circulation pattern that transfers heat. 3. Radiation: It is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, and it does not require any medium to transfer heat.
02

Conduction and its applicability to the problem

Conduction requires direct contact between objects to transfer heat. In the case of the Sun and Earth, there is no physical connection or direct contact between them (they are separated by the vacuum of space). Therefore, conduction cannot be the mode through which energy from the Sun reaches Earth.
03

Convection and its applicability to the problem

Convection requires the movement of fluids to transfer heat. The space between the Sun and Earth is not filled with a fluid; it is mostly a vacuum with only a few atoms per cubic centimeter. This extremely low-density medium is not sufficient to transfer heat through convection from the Sun to Earth.
04

Radiation and its applicability to the problem

Radiation transfers heat through electromagnetic waves that can travel through the vacuum of space. The energy from the Sun reaches Earth through radiation in the form of sunlight, which contains electromagnetic waves, primarily in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared bands.
05

Conclusion

Based on our understanding of the three different modes of heat transfer, we can conclude that no energy from the Sun reaches the Earth through conduction or convection. The primary mode through which energy from the Sun reaches Earth is radiation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The heat generated in the circuitry on the surface of a silicon chip \((k=130 \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{m} \cdot \mathrm{K})\) is conducted to the ceramic substrate to which it is attached. The chip is \(6 \mathrm{~mm} \times 6 \mathrm{~mm}\) in size and \(0.5 \mathrm{~mm}\) thick and dissipates \(5 \mathrm{~W}\) of power. Disregarding any heat transfer through the \(0.5-\mathrm{mm}\) high side surfaces, determine the temperature difference between the front and back surfaces of the chip in steady operation.

A hollow spherical iron container with outer diameter \(20 \mathrm{~cm}\) and thickness \(0.2 \mathrm{~cm}\) is filled with iced water at \(0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). If the outer surface temperature is \(5^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), determine the approximate rate of heat loss from the sphere, in \(\mathrm{kW}\), and the rate at which ice melts in the container. The heat of fusion of water is \(333.7 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{kg}\).

A person's head can be approximated as a 25-cm diameter sphere at \(35^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) with an emissivity of \(0.95\). Heat is lost from the head to the surrounding air at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) by convection with a heat transfer coefficient of \(11 \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} \cdot \mathrm{K}\), and by radiation to the surrounding surfaces at \(10^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Disregarding the neck, determine the total rate of heat loss from the head. (a) \(22 \mathrm{~W}\) (b) \(27 \mathrm{~W}\) (c) \(49 \mathrm{~W}\) (d) \(172 \mathrm{~W}\) (e) \(249 \mathrm{~W}\)

Consider a person standing in a room maintained at \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) at all times. The inner surfaces of the walls, floors, and ceiling of the house are observed to be at an average temperature of \(12^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) in winter and \(23^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) in summer. Determine the rates of radiation heat transfer between this person and the surrounding surfaces in both summer and winter if the exposed surface area, emissivity, and the average outer surface temperature of the person are \(1.6 \mathrm{~m}^{2}, 0.95\), and \(32^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), respectively.

The inner and outer surfaces of a \(0.5-\mathrm{cm}\) thick \(2-\mathrm{m} \times 2-\mathrm{m}\) window glass in winter are \(10^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and \(3^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), respectively. If the thermal conductivity of the glass is \(0.78 \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{m} \cdot \mathrm{K}\), determine the amount of heat loss through the glass over a period of \(5 \mathrm{~h}\). What would your answer be if the glass were \(1 \mathrm{~cm}\) thick?
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