Does energy from the sun reach earth by convection?

Answer 1

Simply put, there are 3 heat transmission phenomenons : convection, conduction and radiation.

The first two are highly dependent of the nature of the material inbetween the two objects, which in this case is nothing at all.

Waves, however, travel accross space and allow heat transmission by radiation.

Answer 2

Light particles from the sun are full of energy and when they hit the earth's surface they bounce off the earth transferring energy to the particles on the earth causing them to move more. Since heat is just the measure of how fast particles are moving it heats up the earth.

Answer 3

Convection is the transfer of energy in a cycle by substances. For example, when magma in the mantle is heated (by being closer to a hot core), it tends to rise, at the peak of this rise (near the crust), it becomes cooler than the magma below it, becomes denser, and sinks. When it reaches the bottom (near the core), it is heated and rises again.

Because there exists no matter in the void of space between the Earth and the Sun that can carry energy via convection, energy from the Sun does not reach the Earth by convection. It travels in the form of radiation such as light.

Answer 4

The Sun radiates its energy in all directions. There is no reason why it should go specifically towards Earth.

The Sun radiates its energy in all directions. There is no reason why it should go specifically towards Earth.

The Sun radiates its energy in all directions. There is no reason why it should go specifically towards Earth.

The Sun radiates its energy in all directions. There is no reason why it should go specifically towards Earth.

Answer 5

The sun's energy is radiated thru a sphere surrounding the su and the earth

represents a small spherical angle inversely proportional to the distance

squared.

In other words . . . Most of the sun's energy misses the Earth, and just keeps on going.

Answer 6

-- There are only three ways for heat energy to move from one place to another.

They are: -> conduction, -> convection, and -> radiation.

-- Conduction and convection are both processes by which heat moves through

material stuff.

-- There is no material stuff in space.

-- So if any heat is going to reach Earth, it has to do it the same way light gets here ...

by the process of radiation.

Answer 7

Heat from the sun is transmitted as infra red radiation, exactly as light. As photons, or as waves depends on your viewpoint. Either way the this radiation can travel through a vacuum.

Answer 8

The sun's heat rays travel through space to get to earth - which is a solid with a different density - so the heat transfers to the earth. The energy from the sun gets absorbed.

Answer 9

Much of space is a vacuum so neither will work.

Answer 10

The Sun radiates its energy in all directions. There is no reason why it should go specifically towards Earth.