Earth's Energy Budget & Energy Distribution

Front

What does Earth's energy budget track?

Back

Earth's energy budget tracks how much energy flows in and out of Earth's climate.

Front

What happens to air or water molecules when they are heated?

Back

When air or water is heated, the molecules move faster and farther apart, causing them to rise.

Front

What type of energy distribution occurs when a spoon becomes warm in hot soup?

Back

Conduction.

Front

What is the term for the energy distribution from electromagnetic waves of energy from the sun that heats our atmosphere?

Back

Radiation.

Front

What type of energy distribution is demonstrated when the sun heats the inside of a car?

Back

Radiation.

Front

Define conduction in the context of energy transfer.

Back

Conduction is the process of heat transfer through direct contact between materials.

Front

What is radiation in terms of energy transfer?

Back

Radiation is the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves.

Front

How does convection differ from conduction and radiation?

Back

Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) due to differences in temperature and density.

Front

What role does the sun play in Earth's energy budget?

Back

The sun provides the primary source of energy that drives Earth's climate and energy budget.

Front

Explain the concept of energy distribution in the context of Earth's climate.

Back

Energy distribution refers to how energy from the sun is absorbed, reflected, and redistributed throughout Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land.