Question

An earth orbiting satellite has solar energy-collecting panels with a total area of 4.0 ?^2 . The intensity for direct sunlight before passing through the earth’s atmosphere is approximately 1.4 kW/m2 . If the sunlight is perpendicular (incident normal) to the panels,

a) calculate the power received by the solar panel

b) the force on the panel if the solar power is totally absorbed. If the sunlight is now 30-degrees from the normal,

c) calculate the power received by the solar panel and

d) the force on the panel if the solar power is totally absorbed.

Answer 1

when sunlight is normal to the solar panel

a. Power received = intensity of light x Area of the panel

= 1.4 kW m^-2 X 4.0 m²

= 5.6 kW

b. Force on the panel when all the light falling on the panel is absorbed

= radiation pressure x area

= 1.4 kW m^-2 x 4.0 m² / (3x 10⁸ ms^-1 )

= 1.9 kilo newton

when light falls at 30 degrees from the normal

c. Power received = intensity of light x Area of the panel x cos

= 1.4 kW m^-2 X 4.0 m² x cos 30⁰

= 4.8 kW

d. force on the panel when all the light falling on the panel is absorbed

= radiation pressure x area x cos

= 1.4 kW m^-2 x 4.0 m² / (3x 10⁸ ms^-1 ) x cos 30⁰

= 1.6 kilo newton

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