Question

How does most energy from the sun reach earth?

Answer 1

Hint: Sun is the biggest source of energy on earth. Sun emits solar radiation in the form of light and heat. And as we know that heat gets transferred from one medium to another by three methods that is conduction convection and radiation.

Complete answer:
Sun is the largest source of energy. Plants consume this energy in photosynthesis. This solar energy is transferred into the whole earth systems which are Hydrosphere, Geosphere, Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Biosphere etc.
Sun energy moves through space by radiation until it reaches the earth's atmosphere. This solar radiation includes UV rays, visible light, infrared, radio waves X-rays etc. Some of this energy is reflected by the atmosphere to space while the remaining energy is absorbed by the clouds, oceans and land masses.
Approximately 34% of the solar radiant energy is reflected by the earth’s atmosphere. And the remaining energy which is absorbed is converted into heat energy. This heat energy plays an important role in maintaining the earth’s temperature. Plants absorb most of the light energy which comes from the Sun in photosynthesis for production of food which is further consumed by animals and human beings. And as we studied the ten percent of energy transfer law by Lindeman that only ten percent of the solar radiation energy is consumed by plants. And only the ten percent energy is transferred to the next successive trophic level.
So it can be concluded from the above discussion that most of the solar energy reaches earth in the form of Solar energy through radiation which is further converted into other forms of energy.

Note: Sun emits approximately 384.6 yottawatts of energy in the form of light and other forms of radiation. And the earth receives 174,000 terawatts of solar energy. 34% of which is reflected back to the space. Greenhouse gasses absorbs and emits radiant energy. Gases like Carbon dioxide, methane , Nitrous oxide, and ozone are examples of greenhouse gases.