(A) Every square meter area facing the Sun, at the distance 1AU from the Sun, receives radiant power =1.368 kW. Therefore, what is the total power radiated by the Sun?
(B) Imagine a spacecraft at distance d from the Sun, which has a solar panel with area A and efficiency e. (I.e., the solar panel converts this fraction of incident sunlight to electric power.) How much electric power can the solar panel produce for the spacecraft?
d=1.56AU; A=7.02 m²; e=28.5 percent;

Q&A Education