What is the total power output of the sun?

Answer 1

First, you have to understand that it depends on how high the sun is in the sky ...

the lower the sun is, the thinner the sun's power gets spread out when it hits the

ground. That means it all depends on where you are on earth, and what time of

day it is.

All of this is a big part of the reason why it's usually cooler at night and warmer during

the day, and also why it's hotter on the equator and colder in Alaska ... all because of

how high the sun is in the sky.

So maybe the best number we can give you is the average number for the whole earth.

That way it's easier to remember.

If you average it out over all the hot places and cold places on earth, the Tropics, the

deserts, the oceans, the poles, etc., you get one number called the "solar constant",

which is exactly what you're asking for.

The number is roughly 1,160 watts ... about 1.56 horsepower ... on every square yard.

That's not only the light from the sun. It's everything ... light, heat, UV, etc.,

all the energy we get from the sun. Everything you could get and use for free

if you had a way to collect it.

Answer 2

Our Sun releases energy at a matter energy conversion rate of 4.26 million metric tons per second,3.83×1026 Watts (383 yottawatts) or 9.15 × 1010 megatons of TNT per second.

That is the equivalent of about 80 quadtrillion (8 x 1016) of the largest power stations per second.

The Sun consumes about 600 million tons of hydrogen per second which means the Sun would consume the mass of the Earth in about 70,000 years.

Answer 3

The sun's rays are extremely powerful. In fact, they can reach up to 4.5 billion light years. For a comparison, pluto is only 3 light hours away from the sun.