Fundamentals of Solar Radiation: Quizzes and Practice Questions

Question 1

Which of the following is the standard unit for measuring solar radiation intensity?

Accepted Answer

Watt per square meter (W/m²)

Answer

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

Answer

Joule per square meter (J/m²)

Answer

Ampere per square meter (A/m²)

Question 2

What aspect of solar radiation is described by its spectral distribution?

Accepted Answer

The variation in radiation intensity across different wavelengths

Answer

The total amount of radiation received by the Earth's surface

Answer

The angular distribution of radiation intensity

Answer

The geographical distribution of radiation intensity

Question 3

What is the angle of incidence in relation to solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

The angle between the solar beam and the normal to the receiving surface

Answer

The angle between the receiving surface and the Earth's surface

Answer

The angle between the Sun and the local horizon

Answer

The angle between the Sun and the equator

Question 4

Which instrument is commonly employed to measure the intensity of solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

Pyrheliometer

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Thermometer

Answer

Barometer

Question 5

What is the term for the amount of solar radiation that would be received by a surface located outside the Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Extraterrestrial solar radiation

Answer

Terrestrial solar radiation

Answer

Incident solar radiation

Answer

Reflected solar radiation

Question 6

Which of the following factors is **most** significant in determining the quantity of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

Latitude

Answer

Longitude

Answer

Altitude

Answer

Time of day

Question 7

What type of instrument is used to measure the intensity of solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

Pyranometer

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Lux meter

Answer

Thermometer

Question 8

What is the term for the angle between the sun's rays and a horizontal surface?

Accepted Answer

Solar elevation angle

Answer

Zenith angle

Answer

Azimuth angle

Answer

Solar declination angle

Question 9

What is the term used to describe the proportion of solar radiation reflected back into space by the Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Albedo

Answer

Insolation

Answer

Irradiance

Answer

Extraterrestrial radiation

Question 10

What is the primary challenge associated with harnessing solar energy?

Accepted Answer

Intermittency

Answer

High cost

Answer

Low efficiency

Answer

Environmental impact

Question 11

Which factor is the most influential in determining the angle of incidence of solar radiation at a specific location on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Latitude

Answer

Time of Day

Answer

Atmospheric Conditions

Question 12

Which measure of solar radiation indicates the amount of energy available for conversion?

Accepted Answer

Irradiance

Answer

Flux

Answer

Power

Answer

Intensity

Question 13

The primary instrument employed to measure solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface is:

Accepted Answer

Pyranometer

Answer

Radiometer

Answer

Actinometer

Answer

Spectroradiometer

Question 14

Rayleigh scattering, primarily responsible for scattering solar radiation in the atmosphere, involves:

Accepted Answer

Interaction with molecules smaller than the wavelength of light

Answer

Reflection from surfaces

Answer

Absorption and re-emission of radiation

Answer

Interaction with particles larger than the wavelength of light

Question 15

For photovoltaic (PV) conversion, which portion of the solar radiation spectrum is most suitable?

Accepted Answer

Visible and near-infrared

Answer

Ultraviolet and X-ray

Answer

Infrared and microwave

Answer

Microwave and radio waves

Question 16

Which type of solar collector is designed to generate high-temperature heat for industrial applications?

Accepted Answer

Parabolic trough collector

Answer

Fresnel lens collector

Answer

Flat-plate collector

Answer

Evacuated tube collector

Question 17

In single-junction PV cells, the most commonly utilized photoactive material is:

Accepted Answer

Silicon

Answer

Gallium arsenide

Answer

Cadmium telluride

Answer

Copper indium gallium selenide

Question 18

What is the SI unit used to measure the irradiance of solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

Watt per square meter (W/m²)

Answer

Electronvolt per square meter (eV/m²)

Answer

Lumen per square meter (lm/m²)

Answer

Joule per second (J/s)

Question 19

Which factor has the most significant influence on the global distribution of solar radiation received at the Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

Latitude

Answer

Altitude

Answer

Time of day

Answer

Cloud cover

Question 20

What is the term used to describe the fraction of solar radiation that is absorbed by a surface?

Accepted Answer

Absorptance

Answer

Transmittance

Answer

Albedo

Answer

Emittance

Question 21

Which of the following is a measure of the distribution of solar radiation energy across different wavelengths?

Accepted Answer

Spectral irradiance

Answer

Global horizontal irradiance

Answer

Diffuse horizontal irradiance

Answer

Direct normal irradiance

Question 22

What is the name of the physical process by which solar energy is converted into electricity?

Accepted Answer

Photovoltaic effect

Answer

Electromagnetic induction

Answer

Piezoelectric effect

Answer

Thermoelectric effect

Question 23

Which of the following factors is typically not a key consideration when evaluating the suitability of a site for solar energy development?

Accepted Answer

Wind speed

Answer

Grid connectivity

Answer

Solar insolation

Answer

Land availability

Question 24

What is the term used to describe the reduction in solar radiation intensity as it travels through the Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Atmospheric attenuation

Answer

Scattering

Answer

Reflection

Answer

Refraction