At which locations is solar energy most concentrated?
A) where the Sun is closest to the curved Earth surface
B) anywhere on Earth, if it is the perihelion
C) at places where the angle of incidence is 90°
D) at places where the angle of incidence is 0°
E) where the atmosphere has the most water vapor

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Solar energy is most concentrated at places where the angle of incidence is 90 degrees, meaning the sunlight is hitting that spot directly perpendicular to the surface. This is because when the angle of incidence is lower, the same amount of sunlight is spread over a larger surface area, reducing the concentration of energy. Similarly, when the angle is higher than 90 degrees, the sunlight becomes less efficient at transferring energy to the surface as it has to travel through a larger distance of the Earth's atmosphere before reaching the surface. Therefore, locations with 90-degree incidence angles will have the most concentrated solar energy.

At Which Locations Is Solar Energy Most Concentrated