The Table shows the average rates of energy transfer by radiation for each square metre of the Earth.
Table
| Energy transfer | Power per square metre in W/m2\text{W/m}^2W/m2 |
|---|---|
| radiation from the Sun arriving at the top of the atmosphere | 340 |
| radiation reflected back into space by clouds, ice and the Earth's surface | 100 |
| radiation absorbed by the atmosphere and the Earth's surface | 240 |
| infrared radiation emitted into space by the Earth and its atmosphere | 240 |
Calculate the percentage of the radiation arriving from the Sun that is reflected back into space.
Use the Table to explain why the Earth's mean temperature stays constant.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases.
Explain how this causes the Earth's mean temperature to increase.
Describe one way in which the Earth's atmosphere affects the radiation from the Sun as it passes through.
50 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Physics 8.3 Beyond Earth, covering 8.3.1 Red-shift and the expanding universe, 8.3.2 Evidence for the Big Bang model, 8.3.3 Formation of the Sun and stellar equilibrium, 8.3.4 Radiation emitted by hot bodies, 8.3.5 The solar system and satellites, 8.3.6 Gravity and circular orbits, 8.3.7 Orbital radius and orbital speed, 8.3.8 Radiation balance and the temperature of the Earth, and 8.3.9 Seismic waves and exploring hidden structures. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.