Calculate the solar energy incident on a reflecting surface in one second

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the solar energy incident on a reflecting surface, specifically in the context of a solar cooker. The problem involves understanding the relationship between power, area, and energy over time, with specific values provided for the area of the reflecting surface and the solar power incident on it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand how to calculate the energy incident on the surface per second, expressing confusion about the concept of Watts per square meter. Some participants clarify the meaning of Watts and how to apply it to the given area to find the energy received.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing clarifications and hints. There is a recognition of the need to correctly calculate the energy based on the area and power values given. The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different aspects of the problem without reaching a consensus on the final calculations.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of potential confusion regarding the area of the curved surface and its implications for the calculations. Additionally, the original poster notes a lack of familiarity with the units involved, which may affect their understanding of the problem.

Richie Smash
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Homework Statement


First I will say, I know I post here a lot, but that is because I have exams coming up soon and I am a beginner, and It's crunch time, I'm self taught with only the help of friends and the internet. I'm currently doing a past examination as practice, but this one is much harder than the ones I've done before, and from every single post I've placed here, I have learned, I like how the helpers only give hints.

Ok without any further ado here is the question.

''A solar cooker focuses sunlight onto a pot containing food. The area of the reflecting surface is 0.75m2 and the solar power incident on it is 800Wm-2. Only 76% of the energy incident on the curved surface is reflected towards the pot.

Calculate:(i) The energy arriving at the curved surface each second.
(ii) the total energy reflected towards the pot in one hour

Homework Equations


KE=1/2*m*v2
W=J/S

The Attempt at a Solution


I would try to solve it but the problem is I don't have a time...
I'm thinking that ok the solar radiation is coming to the reflecting surface at 3.0*108m/s but... That's all I have, I'm unfamiliar with this Watt per metre squared.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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A Watt is a Joule/second. 1 Watt/m2 means that if you take a square that is 1 m on the side, then every second that goes by, one Joule worth of energy is incident on the surface. Here you are given the surface. In (i) you are asked to find how much energy hits the surface in one second. Do you think you can answer that?
 
Ok I'm following a bit, that means in this question in one second 800 joules will hit a square 1m on the side.

But the area here is 0.75m2
So what I have to do is, 800 *0.75 and I will get 600Joules?

And now for one hour I would do 600*3600 and just simply find 76% of that and that is the answer.
 
Last edited:
Richie Smash said:
600*60
How many seconds in an hour?

As an aside, the question says the curved surface has an area of .75m2. Presumably it means that is the cross-sectional area, i.e. the area of a flat surface with the same perimeter. Otherwise there is not enough information. We would need, e.g., the distance from mirror to pot.
 
Ah yes my mistake 600*3600
 

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