The Inverse-Square Law The equation for the inverse-square law is shown below Eq (1). E*2 = E*1 • (R1 / R2)2 Eq (1) Where E*2 is the irradiance at the distance of interest, E*1 is the emission from an emitter (for example, the Sun) or at a reference location (for example, at the orbital distance of a planet), R1 is the radius of the emitter, and R2 is the distance to the location of interest in meters. Here are some values for the Sun. Note that the following only applies to the Sun, not other objects. E*1 = 62,930,000 W/m2 R1 = 695,700,000 m The planet Uranus has a mean orbital distance from the Sun of 2,875,040,000,000 m. How much irradiance does Uranus receive from the Sun.
The Inverse-Square Law
The equation for the inverse-square law is shown below Eq (1).
E*2 = E*1 • (R1 / R2)2 Eq (1)
Where E*2 is the irradiance at the distance of interest, E*1 is the emission from an emitter (for example, the Sun) or at a reference location (for example, at the orbital distance of a planet), R1 is the radius of the emitter, and R2 is the distance to the location of interest in meters.
Here are some values for the Sun. Note that the following only applies to the Sun, not other objects.
E*1 = 62,930,000 W/m2
R1 = 695,700,000 m
The planet Uranus has a mean orbital distance from the Sun of 2,875,040,000,000 m. How much irradiance does Uranus receive from the Sun.
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