Problem set # 3

Problem set # 3

Biology 463

Working individually, correctly answer the following questions assigned from the book “Consider the Spherical Cow” along with all of the additional questions that are given below. To get credit for your answer, you must show all work in a legible and organized presentation. To answer the questions from “Consider the Spherical Cow” you should read the material that precedes it - sometimes this material is rather lengthy. You will also need to use information found in the Appendix of this book for many of the problems. The questions and associated readings are: From “Consider the Spherical Cow”: Read pages 45-48; complete exercise 2 on page 48 Read pages 65-66 Read pages 69-72; complete exercises 2 & 3 on pages 72 (Note: to answer exercise 3, you may need material presented in class) Read pages 89-91; complete exercise 2 on page 92 Additional questions: When needed, use material presented in class to solve each of the following problems. 1. The aggregate temperature of surface waters carried into the northern Atlantic is about 11oC. That of the aggregate deep water formed in the northern Atlantic is about 3oC. The amount of water downwelling in the north Atlantic every year is 10.28 x greater than the total flow of water in the world’s runoff - see Appendix VI #3 of “Consider a Spherical Cow”. The specific heat of liquid water is 4.184 J/cm3/oC. Using this information, calculate the annual amount of energy released by the downwelling water in the north Atlantic. Compare this value to the world’s electrical energy production in 1980 - see Appendix VII #1 of “Consider a Spherical Cow”. Scenario - A new planet has been discovered in our solar system - Zebulon 1. From the comfort of your spaceship you analyze the radiant emissions from this planet and discover that the wavelength of maximum emission is 1000 nm. Assuming the planet behaves like a blackbody, answer questions 2-6. 2. What is the frequency of maximum emission? 3. What is the energy content of a mole of photons at the wavelength of maximum emission? 4. What total rate at which EM radiation is being emitted from each square meter of the planet/atmosphere system?

5. From previous research you know that 40% of the radiation emitted by Zebulon 1 is prevented from reaching space because it is either absorbed or scattered by the planet’s atmosphere. You’ve also determined that the materials in the atmosphere attenuate planetary radiation with an efficiency of 0.05 km-1 (i.e., the extinction coefficient = 0.05 km-1). How thick is the planet’s atmosphere? 6. If the albedo of Zebulon 1 is the same as Earth, how far away is this planet from the Sun? Give an exact estimate and indicate whether the planet is closer or farther away from the Sun than Earth. To receive credit your answers must be turned in by noon on the day indicated on your syllabus. Answers received later than this deadline will not be accepted.

Have fun.

Dr. Peterjohn