Question

200 kW of solar radiation is shining on a 300 m^2 parking lot. What is the insulation on the parking lot?

Show your calculations here:


a) less than 0.5 Sun
b) between 0.5 Sun and 1 Sun
c) more than 1 Sun

Answer 1

That's "insolation" ... not "insulation".

'Insolation' is simply the intensity of solar radiation over some area.

If 200 kW of radiation is shining on 300 m² of area, then the insolation is

(200 kW) / (300 m²) = (666 and 2/3) watt/m² .

Note that this is the intensity of the incident radiation. It doesn't say anything
about how much soaks in or how much bounces off.

Wait !
I just looked back at the choices, and realized that I didn't answer the question
at all. I have no idea what "1 sun" means. Forgive me. I have stolen your
points, and I am filled with remorse.

Wait again !
I found it, through literally several seconds of online research.

1 sun = 1 kW/m².

So 2/3 of a kW per m² = 2/3 of 1 sun

That's between 0.5 sun and 1.0 sun.

I feel better now, and plus, I learned something.