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Finnster · 02.27.2010, 03:08 AM

I imagine some of those numbers are simply being calculated for the theoretical power output of the sun, then divided the surface area of a sphere of a radius the distance of a planet's orbit from the sun, then multiplied by the surface area of the planet itself.

What is not specified is the type of radiation they are counting. Even from an Infrared to Ultra Violet range, I'm sure there are only discrete wavelengths that can be captured by solar panel tech. Even in the chlorophyll comparison, chlorophyll only captures a limited range of EM radiation (ie in the red and blue range) but everything else is missed. I wonder what the actual power availability is.

	(#38)
Finnster KillaHurtz Offline Posts: 2,958 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bucks Co, PA	02.27.2010, 03:08 AM I imagine some of those numbers are simply being calculated for the theoretical power output of the sun, then divided the surface area of a sphere of a radius the distance of a planet's orbit from the sun, then multiplied by the surface area of the planet itself. What is not specified is the type of radiation they are counting. Even from an Infrared to Ultra Violet range, I'm sure there are only discrete wavelengths that can be captured by solar panel tech. Even in the chlorophyll comparison, chlorophyll only captures a limited range of EM radiation (ie in the red and blue range) but everything else is missed. I wonder what the actual power availability is.