Radiation from the sun keeps us alive, but with the thinning of the ozone layer, it is important to limit exposure. Most of us know that the sun is far more intense at the equator than at the poles. The relationship between the intensity of radiation with respect to the distance from the sun is given by I = k/d^2, where I represents radiation intensity in watts per square metre (w/m^2), and distance, d, in astronomical units (AU). K is a proportional constant. (The earth is 1 AU from the sun)
a) Knowing the intensity f radiation from the sun is 9140 w/m^2 on Mercury, 0.387 AU away, determine an equation relating radiation intensity and distance from the sun.
b) sketch a graph of this relationship.
3 answers