Question

The outer surface of a spacecraft in space has an emissivity of 0.44 and a solar absorptivity of 0.3. If solar radiation is incident on the spacecraft at a rate of 950 W/m2, determine the surface temperature of the spacecraft when the radiation emitted equals the solar energy absorbed.

Answer 1

`T=326.928K`

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question we are told that:

Emissivity
`e=0.44`

Absorptivity
`\alpha =0.3`

Rate of solar Radiation
`R=0.3`

Generally the equation for Surface absorbed energy is mathematically given by

`E=\alpha R`

`E=0.3*950`

`E=285W/m^2`

Generally the equation for Emitted Radiation is mathematically given by

`\mu=e(\sigmaT^4)`

Where

T=Temperature

`\sigma=5.67*10^8Wm^(-2)K_(-4)`

Therefore

`\alpha*E=e \sigma T^4`

`0.3*(950)=0.44(5.67*10^-8)T^4`

`T=326.928K`