REVIEW: Summary

Summary

Photo courtesy of John-Morgan/Flickr. 

• Ultraviolet radiation has the highest energy; infrared the lowest
• Ultraviolet is divided into 3 categories based on wavelength: UVC, UVB and UVA (from highest to lowest energy)
• Infrared has longer wavelenths than red light and is felt as heat
• In conduction, substances must be in direct contact as heat moves from areas of more heat to less
• In convection, materials move depending on their heat relative to nearby materials
• The equator receives more solar energy than other latitudes
• Most of the sun's energy is absorbed by Earth (70%)
• A smaller precentage is reflected back into space (30%)
• Sunlight supplies energy for almost all of Earth's ecosystems. Without, producers (plants) would not be able to do photosynthesis
• Humans use solar radiation to supply energy for bodily functions, as mitochondria convert glucose into ATP
• The percentage of radiation reflected back into space can be measured as abledo

After you have completed this part of the lesson, you can check the associated box on the main course page to mark it as complete