About 1350 W/m² of electromagnetic energy reaches the upper atmosphere of the earth from the sun,which is 1.5 × 10¹¹ m away.Use this information to estimate the average power output of the sun. A)1 × 10²⁶ W B)2 × 10²⁶ W C)3 × 10²⁶ W D)4 × 10²⁶ W

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The power output of the sun can be estimated using the formula for the surface area of a sphere (4πr²) and the given intensity. The total power output is the intensity multiplied by the surface area of a sphere with a radius equal to the distance from the sun to the earth: P = 1350 W/m² × 4π(1.5 × 10¹¹ m)² ≈ 3.8 × 10²⁶ W, which is closest to 4 × 10²⁶ W.

About 1350 W/m2 of Electromagnetic Energy Reaches the Upper Atmosphere

About 1350 W/m² of Electromagnetic Energy Reaches the Upper Atmosphere