Question

Two spacecraft are both 10 million kilometers from a star. The total power output of the star is 4 x 1025 W. Spacecraft 1 has a solar panel with a radius of 18 m. Spacecraft 2 has a solar panel with a radius of 6 m. What is the ratio of the power collected by the solar panel of Spacecraft 1 to the power collected by the solar panel of Spacecraft 2.

Answer 1

Answer:

The ratio of the power collected by the solar panel of Spacecraft 1 to the power collected by the solar panel of Spacecraft 2 = 9

Explanation:

Since the two spacecrafts are at the same distance away from the star, the amount of power reaching both spacecrafts would be exactly the same.

The amount of power absorbed by their respective solar panels will now only depend on the surface Area of the solar panels.

Scientifically and logically, the bigger solar panel collects more power.

The ratio of power collected by the solar panel of Spacecraft 1 to the power collected by the solar panel of Spacecraft 2 is given as

(Surface area of solar panel of spacecraft 1) ÷ (Surface area of solar panel of spacecraft 2)

Let the radius of spacecraft 1's solar panel be R

Let the radius of spacecraft 2's solar panel be r

The ratio = (2πR²)/(2πr²)

The ratio = (R²)/(r²)

The ratio = (18²)/(6²)

The ratio = 9

Hope this Helps!!!