Question 5: The energy flux of sunlight reaching the surface of the earth is 1.388 × 103 W/m2. How many photons (nearly) per square metre are incident on the Earth per second? Assume that the photons in the sunlight have an average wavelength of 550 nm.
Answer:
Energy flux of sunlight reaching the surface of earth, Φ = 1.388 × 103 W/m2
Hence, power of sunlight per square metre, P = 1.388 × 103 W
Speed of light, c = 3 × 108 m/s
Planck’s constant, h = 6.626 × 10−34 Js
Average wavelength of photons present in sunlight, λ = 550 nm = 550 x 10-9 m
Number of photons per square metre incident on earth per second = n Hence, the equation for power can be written as: P= nE
∴ n = P/E = Pλ / hc = 1.388 x 103 x 550 x 10-9 / 6.626 x 10-34 x 3 x 108 = 3.84 x 1021 photons/m2/s
Therefore, every second, 3.84 x 1021 photons are incident per square metre on earth.
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