Mountains in the background, rocky land is area A, ice protruding from water is area B.

Question

How does the Sun transfer its energy to areas A and B?

Which statement compares how much heat is absorbed by areas A and B?

Which statement compares the temperatures of areas A and B?

Answer 1

The Sun transfers its energy to areas A (rocky land) and B (ice protruding from water) through radiation. Solar radiation reaches the Earth's surface and is absorbed by the different materials, resulting in changes in temperature.

Comparison of Heat Absorption:

Statement comparing heat absorption: Area A, consisting of rocky land, absorbs more heat than area B, which has ice protruding from water. This is because rocky surfaces typically have a lower albedo (reflectivity) compared to ice, meaning they absorb more solar energy rather than reflecting it.

Comparison of Temperatures:

Statement comparing temperatures: Area A is generally warmer than area B. This is due to the higher heat absorption capacity of rocky surfaces compared to ice, which requires significant energy input to change temperature, particularly because of the latent heat of fusion involved in melting ice.

In summary, area A (rocky land) absorbs more heat and has a higher temperature than area B (ice protruding from water).