Bond albedo

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bond-albedo

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the discoverer?George Phillips Bond (proposed concept)
2. What is the primary application?Calculating absorbed energy and determining equilibrium temperature
3. Why does a planet with ice or clouds have a higher Bond albedo?Ice and clouds are very bright, so they bounce more light back, giving a higher Bond albedo.
4. How does Bond albedo affect a planet's temperature?A higher Bond albedo means less sunlight is absorbed, so the planet stays cooler; a lower albedo lets more heat in, making it warmer.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, ordered by frequency and wavelength.
Phase Angle: The angle between the light source and the observer, as seen from the object.
Equilibrium Temperature: The stable temperature a planet reaches when its incoming and outgoing energy fluxes are balanced.