The tropics
No, the sun's radiant energy is strongest at the Equator.
it does reach the earth in light energy.
At the poles.
the suns gravitational pull is strongest because the earth is at its closest point to the sun.
Absorbed
Yes because we use the suns energy and not polluting the earth.
~.08
its about just 1%
waves
it goes into the inner core.
Waves of heat and light, called radiation, travel to earth.
Most of it travels to Earth via light, and similar electromagnetic waves.