The intensity of sunlight striking Earth\'s upper atmosphere is approximately 1.

Question

The intensity of sunlight striking Earth's upper atmosphere is approximately 1.35 × 103 W/m2.

Part A: Emax= 1010 V/m at this location assuming a single sinusoidal electromagnetic wave.

Part B: Bmax = 3.36x10^-6 T for a single sinusoidal electromagnetic wave at this location.

Part C: The power output of the sun is 3.8x10^26 W when the Earth is 1.5 x10^11 m away from earth.

Part D: If all the sunlight that strikes the upper atmosphere reached Earth's surface, how many watts of power would reach Earth's surface? (Hint: The Earth-Sun distance is so great that you can assume all the sunlight is perpendicular to the cross section of Earth.)

Only need part D answered, but not sure if parts A, B and C help.

Also, answer is NOT: 3.8x1026 W, 3.50x1017 W, 3.47x1017 W, 1.39x1016 W, or 1.95 x 1015 W.

Explanation / Answer

we know, radius of the earth, Re = 6.37*10^6 m

D) the cross sectional area of the earth, A = pi*Re^2

= pi*(6.37*10^6)^2

= 1.2747*10^14 m^2

we know, Intensity = power/Area

==> Power = Intensity*Area

= 1.35*10^3*1.2747*10^14

= 1.72*10^17 W

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