Solar Energy Unit 3 Exam Questions
and Answers
Why do low latitudes of the Earth receive more sunlight than high latitudes, on average?
- Answer- unequal heating of the Earth
At what latitudes are you most likely to find major deserts? - Answer- 30 degrees north
and south (asked)
Why is the amount of sunlight reaching the surface less along a narrow band near the
Earth's equator? - Answer- clouds and storms from Hadley Cell
How does the solar power striking a square meter of the Earth's surface on a clear day
with the sun directly overhead compare to the power of a portable hairdryer? - Answer-
hair dryer same (~1000 W/m^2)
What part of the U.S. has the greatest natural potential for developing solar energy? -
Answer- Southwest (CA, AR, NM, etc)
What happens to large scale atmospheric currents in the northern hemisphere? -
Answer- bent to the right
What is a Hadley Cell? - Answer- 0 to 30 degrees, hot air up and away from equator
The total rate at which solar energy strikes the Earth is equal to approximately times the
rate of world energy use. - Answer- ?
Why is solar thermal energy particularly well-suited to residential water heating? -
Answer- solar heating matches the requirements of residential space and water heating
Why are solar cars (cars powered by attached solar photovoltaic panels) unlikely to
replace current automobiles? - Answer- 1 horsepower (asked) (there isn't enough solar
energy available to obtain the performance of the avg car)
Which of the following equations describes the relationship between mass lost and
energy gained during nuclear fusion? - Answer- E = m*c^2
What is 3He (helium-3)? - Answer- one neutron and two protons
and Answers
Why do low latitudes of the Earth receive more sunlight than high latitudes, on average?
- Answer- unequal heating of the Earth
At what latitudes are you most likely to find major deserts? - Answer- 30 degrees north
and south (asked)
Why is the amount of sunlight reaching the surface less along a narrow band near the
Earth's equator? - Answer- clouds and storms from Hadley Cell
How does the solar power striking a square meter of the Earth's surface on a clear day
with the sun directly overhead compare to the power of a portable hairdryer? - Answer-
hair dryer same (~1000 W/m^2)
What part of the U.S. has the greatest natural potential for developing solar energy? -
Answer- Southwest (CA, AR, NM, etc)
What happens to large scale atmospheric currents in the northern hemisphere? -
Answer- bent to the right
What is a Hadley Cell? - Answer- 0 to 30 degrees, hot air up and away from equator
The total rate at which solar energy strikes the Earth is equal to approximately times the
rate of world energy use. - Answer- ?
Why is solar thermal energy particularly well-suited to residential water heating? -
Answer- solar heating matches the requirements of residential space and water heating
Why are solar cars (cars powered by attached solar photovoltaic panels) unlikely to
replace current automobiles? - Answer- 1 horsepower (asked) (there isn't enough solar
energy available to obtain the performance of the avg car)
Which of the following equations describes the relationship between mass lost and
energy gained during nuclear fusion? - Answer- E = m*c^2
What is 3He (helium-3)? - Answer- one neutron and two protons
