SSC Exam » SSC Study Materials » Physical Geography » The Earth: Shape and Size-How the Sun Creates Energy

The Earth: Shape and Size-How the Sun Creates Energy

Introduction 

The Sun is the only source of energy on the earth responsible for all the activities on the earth. Therefore, the earth’s nature and the environmental incidents completely depend on solar energy. If the Sun stops generating energy and does not provide energy to the earth, then the earth’s ecological balance will be disrupted, and there will be no source of energy on the entire planet. 

Being the only energy source on this planet, the Sun plays a very important role in the earth’s nature and lives because no work on the planet is possible without energy. The Sun can provide all the needed energy to the planet. 

Definition of Solar Energy 

The radiation that comes from the Sun and can generate heat, create chemical reactions, and generate electricity can be defined as solar energy. The Sun is the ball of fire in which the energy is generated due to the “nuclear fusion process”. The total energy amount (430 quintillion Joules per hour) received by the earth from the Sun is widely more than the world’s anticipated and current energy requirements. The entire planet is dependent on solar energy because any kind of work related to electricity is entirely dependent on solar energy as the Sun is the only source of light for the earth. 

Presently, while the non-renewable resources are getting emptied, the requirement for natural resources like solar energy is increasing day by day. Solar energy is costly but is not harmful and provides a huge amount of energy that is completely safe for the earth’s environment. 

Shape and Size of the Earth 

The earth’s shape is “oblate spheroid”, which has flattened poles and “bulges at the equator”. It is 12,756 km at the equator’s side and 12,714 km from one pole. The current distance from the earth to the Sun is approximately 148.12 million kilometres, decreasing day by day because the Sun is coming closer to the earth. The size and shape of the earth have changed earlier due to global warming and pollution because many natural changes have occurred that have changed the earth’s ecological balance by changing its total size and shape. 

Presently, the icebergs are melting due to global warming, which increases the earth’s sea level by changing the balance of land and water of the earth. 

How Sun produces energy 

The Sun’s gravity is 28 times the earth which “traps hydrogen” from the atmosphere, and the hydrogen “fuels the sun’s fusion reaction”. Having a temperature of “15 million degrees Celsius” at its core, the Sun is always blasting with different types of nuclear fusions. First, in the core surface of the Sun, the hydrogen turns into plasma.”Electrons in atoms” are negatively charged, and are differentiated from the positively charged atomic nuclear ions. Finally, the gravitational force of the Sun creates pressure at this huge temperature by colliding the hydrogen ions at high speed. 

It overcomes the “natural electrostatic repulsion” by forming heavier helium responsible for solar energy. 

Impact of Solar Energy on the Earth 

In the era of global warming, where non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum are emptying, the demand for solar energies has increased gradually. As the natural elements are completely dependent on light, it is obvious that the impact of solar energy will be huge on them. Plants will not grow without solar energy because the main ingredient for processing the foods of plants is light, and sin is the only source of light. On the other hand, the work processes completely dependent on electricity or fuel can be fulfilled by using solar energy. 

Conclusion 

The above explanation about solar energy proves the importance of solar energy in nature and how the Sun controls the earth’s nature and atmosphere. Even the growth of animals and plants is directly linked with the solar energy coming from the Sun. On the other hand, excessive heat of the Sun can indeed cause harm for humans, plants and animals as harmful UV rays are also a part of the heat of the Sun. Presently, the distance between the Sun and the earth is reduced because the Sun has come much closer, which is why the earth’s average temperature has increased earlier. It is always a better option to use solar energy instead of using coal or petroleum that are the main cause of pollution and global warming. 

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the SSC Examination Preparation.

What is the process of the Sun's energy production?

The process through which the Sun produces energy in its core surface is known as “Nuclear fusion”. The Sun̵...Read full

What is solar energy?

Solar energy is the energy generated from the Sun after the nuclear fusion by which heavy helium is being generated....Read full

What is the usage of solar energy?

The cost of solar energy is extremely high, but the main advantage of using this energy is it is renewable and not h...Read full