Nikki Newby
Energy comes in many different ways such as chemical, heat, light in the forms of kinetic and potential energy. Energy also has the amazing capacity and freedom to change its form. It can not be created nor destroyed but scientists have the ability to measure it in what they call Joules. Solar energy travels in waves known as electromagnetic waves. Theses waves are so powerful that they can pass through space into our atmosphere. I chose to focus on the sun’s energy known as solar radiation and plan to use earth as great example for showing how this is a vital requirement for life.
This form of energy has a great deal in supporting life on this planet. Solar energy an estimated thirty percent of the time is actually reflected due to conditions such as the snow but the actual absorbed energy keeps the earth warm along with the help of the greenhouse effect which keeps energy restricted in our atmosphere. The sun’s solar energy also controls the weather through solar winds that create a mixture of cool and hot air that also aids in heating earths surface making it more inhabitable. If that wasn’t enough this form of energy also acts as food through photosynthesis that is confined and stored by plants. Solar energy alone plays a very important role for life as we now know through food, keeping the earth warm, and helping create weather.
Bennett, Jeff , Megan Donahue, Nick Schneider, and Mark Voit. The
Cosmic Perspective. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Pearson Education, 2004.
Williams, Jack. "Earth's Life Needs 'Greenhouse Effect'." USA Today.
06 Dec 2005 http://usatoday.com/weather/wnatgrn.htm