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Q67 (NDA-II/2019) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Astronomy and astrophysics

Radiations coming from the Sun are mostly in the form of

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: C
Explanation

Solar radiation, or insolation, consists of electromagnetic waves emitted by the Sun. This radiation is primarily composed of visible light, ultraviolet (UV) rays, and infrared (IR) radiation [1][3]. Specifically, the Sun's high surface temperature causes it to emit energy mostly in the form of short-wave radiation [1][3]. Within the infrared portion of the solar spectrum, the Sun emits 'near-infrared' radiation, which is characterized by shorter wavelengths compared to the 'long-wave' infrared radiation emitted by the cooler Earth [2][5]. Data indicates that the solar spectrum is roughly 42-43% visible light and 52-55% near-infrared light . While the Earth re-emits energy as long-wave thermal infrared, the incoming radiation from the Sun is dominated by visible light and short-wavelength (near) infrared [1][5]. Therefore, the Sun's radiations are mostly light and short-wavelength infrared.

Sources

  1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > Insolation > p. 282
  2. [3] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 14: Climate > lnsolation > p. 131
  3. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > The Passage of Solar Radiation through the Atmosphere > p. 68
  4. [5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/physics-and-astronomy/solar-spectra
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