Blundell Thermal Physics · Problem 37.6

Earth's atmosphere

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · moon-surface-temperature

Problem

The Moon has no atmosphere. Assuming that the Sun's rays strike a small region on the Moon at angle θ\theta from the normal to the surface, show that the temperature TT at that region is given by T=(S(1−A)cos⁡θ/σ)1/4T = (S(1-A)\cos\theta/\sigma)^{1/4}, stating your assumptions. The albedo of the Moon is A≈0.15A \approx 0.15 and the solar constant S=1.36 kW m−2S = 1.36\,\mathrm{kW\,m^{-2}}. Using these numbers, calculate TT for various values of θ\theta.

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