Suppose a plant is receiving 190 units of heat per minute due to solar radiation, and 60 units of heat per minute due to infrared radiation. Eighty units per minute of solar radiation are reflected back by the leaves, and it emits 30 units of infrared radiation. It also loses 140 units of heat per minute through evapotranspiration. The temperature of a plant is not changing. Based on this, we can conclude that the combination of conduction and convection is resulting in a _______ of heat to the plant, and that its temperature is currently _______ the ambient temperature.
A) zero net change; the same as
B) net input; colder than
C) net output; warmer than
D) net output; colder than

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The plant is not changing temperature, so the heat input must be equal to the heat output. The plant is receiving 190 units of heat per minute due to solar radiation, and 60 units of heat per minute due to infrared radiation. Eighty units per minute of solar radiation are reflected back by the leaves, and it emits 30 units of infrared radiation. It also loses 140 units of heat per minute through evapotranspiration. So, the total heat input is 190 + 60 - 80 - 30 = 140 units per minute. The total heat output is 140 units per minute through evapotranspiration. Therefore, the combination of conduction and convection is resulting in a zero net change of heat to the plant, and its temperature is currently the same as the ambient temperature.

Suppose a Plant Is Receiving 190 Units of Heat Per