Chapter 22, Problem 19A

Solar radiant energy is composed of short waves, yet terrestrial radiation is composed of relatively longer waves.

To determine

To Explain: Solar radiant energy is composed of short waves, and the terrestrial radiation is composed of relatively longer waves.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Solar radiation contains a high magnitude of energy and so it emits short wave. The short waves are then reflected back from the earth’s surface and hence their energy level becomes lower as most of the energy is absorbed by the earth’s surface.

The heat emitted by the earth’s surface is in the form of long-wave because the longwave contains a low energy level. The short wave has a shorter wavelength as compared to the longwave. The earth is cooler than the sun and so it generatesa long wave.

Conclusion:

Hence, solar radiant energy is composed of short waves as it contains high energy as comparedto the long waves emitted by the earth’s surface.