Earth's Energy Budget

About 30% of the solar energy that reaches the atmosphere is reflected back into space. About 20% is absorbed by the air. What percentage reaches earth's surface?

• 50%
• 30%
• 100%
• 55%

What is the primary source of energy for the Earth?

• Coal
• Wind power
• Natural gas
• The sun

About 30% of the sun's incoming energy never reaches Earth because it is....

• absorbed by the ocean
• trapped by the gravitational pull between the moon and the Earth 
• reflected back into space
• destroyed by the ozone layer

dark colored surfaces _________ radiation

• reflect 
• absorb

light colored surfaces ____________ radiation 

• absorb
• reflect

Some of the sun's energy is absorbed by Earth's surface and released back into the atmosphere as

• infrared radiation
• greenhouse gases
• ultraviolet light
• visible light

How would Earth be different without greenhouse gases in its atmosphere?

• More heat from solar radiation would escape into space
• More solar radiation would be reflected back into space
• More solar radiation would penetrate Earth's crust and mantle
• More heat from solar radiation would be stored in Earth's core

Some of the sun's energy is absorbed by Earth's surface and released back into the atmosphere as

• infrared radiation
• greenhouse gases
• ultraviolet light
• visible light

Michelle performed an investigation on how much sunlight is absorbed by various surfaces, but the results did not match her hypothesis.  What should Michelle do now?

• perform the investigation in a different way
• change the hypothesis to match the results
• choose a different investigation
• repeat the investigation

What is the primary source of energy for the Earth?

• Coal
• Wind power
• Natural gas
• The sun