A satellite carries a flat photovoltaic panel of area

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Electricity, Magnetism & Electromagnetism · Electromagnetic waves and their propagation · Electromagnetic waves and their propagation

Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetism, Ch Plane electromagnetic waves: polarisation, energy flux and radiation pressure

Problem

1.60\ \mathrm{m^2}

, held with its face square-on to the Sun, well above the atmosphere. The panel converts

18.0\%

of the light energy falling on it into electrical energy, the rest being lost as heat, and it delivers

390\ \mathrm{W}

of electrical power. Treat the sunlight as a plane electromagnetic wave in vacuum, unpolarised light being handled here simply through its intensity. Use

\varepsilon_0 = 8.854\times10^{-12}\ \mathrm{F\,m^{-1}}

and

c = 3.00\times10^{8}\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}

. ((a)) Estimate the intensity of the sunlight at the satellite. ((b)) Estimate the electric field amplitude

E_0

of this sunlight. ((c)) Estimate the corresponding magnetic field amplitude

B_0

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