The Earth is 1.49 × 10¹¹ meters from the sun. If the solar radiation at the top of the Earth's atmosphere is 1340 W/m², what is the total power output of the sun? A) 7.10 × 10²⁷ W B) 2.20 × 10³⁰ W C) 6.62 × 10²⁶ W D) 3.74 × 10²⁶ W E) 2.98 × 10²⁵ W

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total power output of the sun can be calculated using the formula for the power per unit area (solar constant) at the distance of the Earth, which is $P = 4\pi d^2 \times S$, where $d$ is the distance from the sun to Earth (1.49 × $10^{11}$ meters) and $S$ is the solar radiation at the top of the Earth's atmosphere (1340 W/m$^2$). Substituting these values into the formula gives a total power output of approximately $3.74 × 10^{26}$ W.

The Earth Is 1