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IB Physics HL B 2 5 Solar Constant S Questions

Practise IB Physics HL B.2.5 by defining the solar constant and evaluating why its average value varies with orbit, output and measurement.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Course
Physics HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • Define the solar constant as the solar-radiation intensity, or power per unit area, received at Earth’s mean orbital distance.
  • Explain why the solar constant is treated as an approximate average, including variations in solar output and Earth–Sun distance over its elliptical orbit.

IB Physics HL B 2 5 Solar Constant S Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The diagram shows a simplified energy-balance model for the Earth surface-atmosphere system.

Figure for Question IB Physics HL B 2 5 Solar Constant S Questions question 1 — IB Physics HL

The following data are given:

 Average albedo of Earth =0.30 Average global temperature of the surface =288 K Average Earth-Sun distance =1.5×1011 m\begin{aligned} \text { Average albedo of Earth } & =0.30 \\ \text { Average global temperature of the surface } & =288 \mathrm{~K} \\ \text { Average Earth-Sun distance } & =1.5 \times 10^{11} \mathrm{~m} \end{aligned}

State what is meant by the solar constant.

The diagram shows a simplified energy-balance model for the Earth surface-atmosphere system.

The following data are given:

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