Question

What is total amount of solar energy received by earth and atmosphere?

(a) 3.8 X 1024 J/year

(b) 9.2 X 1024 J/year

(c) 5.4 X 1024 J/year

(d) 2.1 X 1024 J/year

I got this question during an interview.

Enquiry is from Solar Radiation topic in section Solar Energy of Energy Engineering

Answer 1

Correct choice is (a) 3.8 X 1024 J/year

For explanation: Even if we use 5% of this energy, it is more than 50 times our requirement. The total solar radiation absorbed by the earth and its atmosphere is 3.8 X 1024 Joules/year. Except that it is distributed over the area of earth.