Does the sun radiate electromagnetic energy and electromagnetic waves emitted by the sun heat the earth?
Yes, the sun radiates electromagnetic energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. These waves travel through space at the speed of light and can be classified into different types based on their wavelength, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) waves, X-rays, and gamma rays.
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Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum
Visible light is the only type of electromagnetic radiation that we can see with our eyes. The other types of electromagnetic radiation are invisible to us, but they can still have a significant impact on our lives.
For example, UV radiation from the sun can cause sunburn and skin cancer. X-rays and gamma rays are even more energetic than UV radiation and can be harmful in high doses. However, these types of radiation are also used for medical purposes, such as X-rays for imaging and radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
The sun's electromagnetic radiation is the primary source of energy for life on Earth. Plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy, which they then use to grow and produce food. This food is then eaten by animals, including humans. Ultimately, all of the energy that we use comes from the sun.
The sun's electromagnetic radiation also plays a role in regulating Earth's climate. Visible light warms the Earth's surface, while infrared radiation is emitted back into space from the Earth. The balance between these two types of radiation determines the Earth's temperature.
Electromagnetic waves emitted by the sun heat the earth through a process called absorption. When the sun's radiation strikes an object, some of it is absorbed, while some of it is reflected. The absorbed radiation causes the object to heat up. The amount of radiation that is absorbed depends on the properties of the object, such as its color and surface texture.
For example, dark objects absorb more radiation than light objects. This is why dark-colored clothing feels warmer than light-colored clothing in the sun. The surface texture of an object can also affect how much radiation it absorbs. For example, a rough surface will absorb more radiation than a smooth surface.
The earth's surface absorbs about 70% of the sun's radiation that reaches it. This radiation is responsible for heating the atmosphere and oceans. The atmosphere and oceans then emit some of this radiation back into space, but they also trap some of it, which helps to keep the earth warm.
The balance between the amount of radiation that the earth absorbs and the amount that it emits is important for regulating the earth's climate. If the earth absorbs too much radiation, it will become too hot. If it absorbs too little radiation, it will become too cold.
(Ref to 4th paragraph of Mr Murtadha Shukur ): Actually the visible EM radiation absorbed by the earth surface and re-emitted in the form of IR radiation band from the earth surface. The absorption of IR radiation by the CO2, CH4, H2O molecule raise the temperature of the stmosphere (processes: vib, rotational and bending moded)
Waves from the sun which we cannot see are infrared, which have lower frequencies than red, and ultraviolet, which have higher frequencies than violet light. Most of the solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and much of what reaches the earth's surface is radiated back into the atmosphere to become heat energy. The sun's electromagnetic radiation also plays a role in regulating Earth's climate. Visible light warms the Earth's surface, while infrared radiation is emitted back into space from the Earth. The balance between these two types of radiation determines the Earth's temperature. Waves from the sun which we cannot see are infrared, which have lower frequencies than red, and ultraviolet, which have higher frequencies than violet light. Most of the solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and much of what reaches the earth's surface is radiated back into the atmosphere to become heat energy. Energy is transferred from the sun to Earth via electromagnetic waves, or radiation. Most of the energy that passes through the upper atmosphere and reaches Earth's surface is in two forms, visible and infrared light. The majority of this light is in the visible spectrum. The Sun produces a broad range of electromagnetic waves as a result of various processes, including the fusion reactions that are the cause of its heat, the energy from those reactions being absorbed and re-emitted by the atoms within it, and solar flares. Electric currents inside the sun generate a magnetic field that spreads throughout the solar system. The field causes activity at the surface of the sun, surging and ebbing in a regular cycle. At the peak of the cycle, the polarity of the field flips, during a time of maximum sunspot activity. The Earth and most of the planets in the Solar System, as well as the Sun and other stars, all generate magnetic fields through the motion of electrically conducting fluids. The Earth's field originates in its core. This is a region of iron alloys extending to about 3400 km.
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