Page 119 - Science Course 1 (Book 2)

Earth’s Atmosphere: Energy Transfer Mo9-L4a: How is Energy Transferred

in the Atmosphere?
Lesson 4

conduction

In this topic, you will learn the following the transfer of thermal energy due to collisions
lessons: between particles.
Mo.9 – L4a: How is Energy Transferred in the
Atmosphere?
Mo.9 – L4b: How is Air Circulation Created?

How is Energy Transferred in the
Mo9-L4a Atmosphere?

KEY CONCEPTS:
1.How does energy transfer from the Sun to Earth
and the atmosphere?

convection
Vocabulary A-Z the circulation of particles within a material caused

Let us learn some vocabulary by differences in thermal energy and density.

radiation
the transfer of thermal energy electromagnetic
waves.

Let’s Begin

Energy From The Sun

Radiation is the trans-
fer of energy by
electromagnetic
waves.
Ninety-nine percent of
the radiation from the
Sun consists of visible
light, ultraviolet light,
and infrared radiation.

The majority of sunlight is visible light that passes through the atmosphere to Earth’s
surface, where it is converted to heat.

The wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light and infrared radiation (IR) are just beyond the
range of visibility to human eyes.

UV light is harmful to human skin and IR can be sensed as thermal engergy of warmth.

As energy from the Sun is absorbed by Earth, it is radiated back as IR.
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