Question

Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf, dim and cool. The total radiation power (i.e. radiation energy emitted per unit time) is 1.7% of that of our Sun. Let the radiation intensity received by the Earth from the Sun be IE. How much is the radiation intensity received by Proxima Centauri b from Proxima Centauri? Express your answer as percentages of IE. Hint: intensity is defined as power per unit surface area, therefore you don’t need to know how large the planet is.

Answer 1