Relating solar energy area to power/time?

In summary, the question asks for the area of a solar collector that can collect a certain amount of energy in a specific amount of time. The given information is the intensity of solar energy at midday, which is measured in watts per square meter. The key to solving the problem is understanding that power is energy per time, and using this relationship to calculate the area of the solar collector.
  • #1
Tineras
4
0

Homework Statement



Given Information:

At midday, solar energy strikes the Earth with an intensity of about xxxW/m^2

Question:

What is the area of a solar collector that could collect xxxMJ of energy in xxxHours ?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I'm having difficulty relating the two pieces of information. I have been staring at this problem for quite some time and haven't gotten anywhere. Any information would be helpful. I left out the number because I'm more interested in knowing how to solve the problem than I am getting the answer.

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Well what precisely are you given? You're given power per unit area, and what's power? Energy per time. Specifically, you know in an area of 1 m^2, there are xxx joules per second, which is one way to interpret that information
 
  • #3


I understand your struggle in relating the two pieces of information. Let's break it down to understand the relationship between solar energy area and power/time.

Solar energy is measured in terms of power, which is the rate at which energy is transferred or converted. The unit for power is Watts (W). In this case, the given information states that at midday, solar energy strikes the Earth with an intensity of xxxW/m^2. This means that for every square meter of the Earth's surface, xxxW of solar energy is being received.

To calculate the total energy received in a certain amount of time (xxxHours), we need to know the power and the time. This can be done using the equation P = E/t, where P is power, E is energy, and t is time. Rearranging this equation, we get E = P x t. This means that the energy received is equal to the power multiplied by the time.

Now, let's apply this to the question. We are given xxxMJ of energy and xxxHours of time. To find the power, we need to convert the energy from megajoules (MJ) to joules (J) by multiplying it by 1 million (1 MJ = 1,000,000 J). This gives us the value of energy in joules. Then, we can use the equation E = P x t and plug in the values of energy and time to solve for power.

Once we have the power, we can use the given information about solar energy intensity (xxxW/m^2) to calculate the area of the solar collector. Since power is energy per unit time, we can divide the power by time to get the energy per unit time. This value represents the energy received per second. Then, we can divide this value by the intensity (xxxW/m^2) to get the area of the solar collector.

In summary, to relate solar energy area to power/time, we need to use the equations P = E/t and E = P x t, along with the given information about solar energy intensity, to calculate the area of the solar collector. I hope this helps in solving the problem.
 

1. How is solar energy area related to power?

The amount of solar energy that can be converted into power is directly proportional to the area of solar panels that are exposed to sunlight. This means that the larger the solar panel area, the more power it can produce.

2. Can the efficiency of solar panels affect the power output?

Yes, the efficiency of solar panels can affect the power output. Higher efficiency panels are able to convert a greater percentage of solar energy into usable power, resulting in a higher power output.

3. How does the time of day affect the power output of solar energy?

Solar energy production is dependent on the amount of sunlight that reaches the solar panels. Therefore, the time of day can affect the power output as the amount of sunlight varies throughout the day. The highest power output is typically achieved during midday when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.

4. Is the geographical location a factor in the power output of solar energy?

Yes, the geographical location can affect the power output of solar energy. Areas that receive more sunlight throughout the year, such as near the equator, will have a higher power output compared to areas with less sunlight, such as near the poles.

5. How do changes in weather or climate affect the power output of solar energy?

Changes in weather or climate can have a significant impact on the power output of solar energy. Cloudy or overcast days can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels, resulting in a lower power output. Additionally, extreme weather events like storms or hurricanes can damage or disrupt the functioning of solar panels, further impacting the power output.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
2
Replies
35
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Other Physics Topics
Replies
20
Views
28K
  • Materials and Chemical Engineering
Replies
1
Views
2K
Back
Top