Question

Assume that a certain location on the Earth reflects 29.0% of the incident sunlight from its clouds and surface.

(a) If the intensity of solar radiation is 1373 W/m2, what is the radiation pressure (Prad) on the Earth at this location? ________ Pa

(b) Compare this to normal atmospheric pressure (Pa) at the Earth's surface, which is 101 kPa.

Prad is ________ smaller than atmospheric pressure

Answer 1

a) Prad= (Ef*cos² $\alpha$ )/c (N/M² or Pa)

= (1353/(3*10⁸)) *cos²29

=0.2523*10^-5 Pa

b) 1Pa=101kPa

then 0.2523*10^-5Pa= 0.25*10^-3 kPa

so, Prad is 10^-2 is smaller the atmospheric pressure.