How much energy does the Sun radiate?
I realize that the Sun does not radiate energy uniformly or steadily. An answer that is an average or close enough is good.
To determine the average energy radiated by the Sun, you can consider its total luminosity. The luminosity of the Sun is a measure of the amount of energy it emits per unit time.
Here's how you can estimate the average energy radiated by the Sun:
1. Start with the luminosity of the Sun: L = 3.828 × 10^26 Watts. This value represents the total power output of the Sun.
2. Since energy is power multiplied by time, you can calculate the energy emitted by the Sun in one second by multiplying the luminosity by the duration of one second: E = L × 1 second.
3. Finally, to get the average energy radiated by the Sun, divide the energy emitted in one second by the total time in one year (approximately 31,536,000 seconds): E_avg = E ÷ (31,536,000 seconds/year).
With these calculations, you'll find that the average energy radiated by the Sun is approximately 1.21 × 10^17 Joules per second (or Watts). Keep in mind that this is an average value, as the Sun's energy output fluctuates over time.