Final answer:
A significant portion of the sun's energy radiates in the visible spectrum, with peak radiation approximately at 500 nm, within the visible spectrum. Yet, since the sun also radiates energy in wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum, the fraction of energy radiated in the visible spectrum is less than one-half.
Step-by-step explanation:
This question pertains to the Principles of Black Body Radiation. The Sun behaves approximately like a black body. Its visible spectrum range is from 350 nm to 700 nm. Although we can't calculate an exact fraction without knowing the total radiation of the sun across all wavelengths, we can understand it conceptually. The maximum intensity radiation for a black body is given by Wien's displacement law: λmax = b/T, where b is the Wien's constant (approximately 2.898 x 10^-3 m.K) and T is the temperature (5800 K). This gives us λmax, the peak of the radiation distribution.
We find that λmax is approximately 500 nm, falling within the visible spectrum. This implies a significant portion of the sun's energy is radiated in the visible spectrum. However, since the sun's total energy radiation includes wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum (ultraviolet, gamma rays, X-rays, infrared, radio waves), we can infer the actual fraction of energy in the visible spectrum would be less than one-half.
Learn more about Black Body Radiation