Which wavelength range does the Earth primarily emit after absorbing solar energy?

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Multiple Choice

Which wavelength range does the Earth primarily emit after absorbing solar energy?

Explanation:
When something is at Earth-like temperatures, its thermal radiation peaks in the infrared, not in visible light. The Earth’s average surface temperature is about 288 K, and Wien’s displacement law tells us the peak wavelength is approximately 2898 μm·K divided by T. Plugging in 288 K gives a peak near 10 μm. That places the Earth’s dominant emission in the longwave infrared range. Other options—shortwave infrared, ultraviolet, or microwave—are associated with hotter or much longer-wavelength radiation, so they don’t describe the primary thermal emission from Earth.

When something is at Earth-like temperatures, its thermal radiation peaks in the infrared, not in visible light. The Earth’s average surface temperature is about 288 K, and Wien’s displacement law tells us the peak wavelength is approximately 2898 μm·K divided by T. Plugging in 288 K gives a peak near 10 μm. That places the Earth’s dominant emission in the longwave infrared range. Other options—shortwave infrared, ultraviolet, or microwave—are associated with hotter or much longer-wavelength radiation, so they don’t describe the primary thermal emission from Earth.

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