how will I know how much energy something gets from the sun?
To determine how much energy something can receive from the sun, you will need to consider a few factors:
1. Surface area: The size of the object exposed to sunlight plays a significant role in determining the amount of energy it receives. A larger surface area can capture more sunlight and thus receive more energy.
2. Angle of incidence: The angle at which sunlight hits an object affects the energy it receives. When sunlight strikes an object directly perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle), it receives the maximum energy. If the angle is smaller, less energy is absorbed.
3. Geographic location: The amount of sunlight an object receives varies depending on its location on Earth. Areas closer to the equator generally receive more sunlight throughout the year, while locations closer to the poles may have less sunlight due to seasonal variations.
4. Atmospheric conditions: The Earth's atmosphere filters and scatters sunlight, which affects the amount of energy reaching an object's surface. Factors such as cloud cover, pollution, altitude, and humidity can impact the energy received.
To calculate the actual energy received, you need to consider the aforementioned factors. The basic unit for sun's energy is watt per square meter (W/m²). By multiplying the solar irradiance (energy per unit area received from the sun) with the exposed surface area, you can estimate the energy received by the object.
Keep in mind that specialized equipment or software is often used to measure and calculate these values accurately.