Sunlight

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

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/sunlight

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 primary fusion process?Hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium, releasing energy (E=mc²)
2. What is the solar irradiance at earth?Approximately 1,361 watts per square meter (solar constant)
3. What is sunlight and why does it warm the Earth?Sunlight is bright light from the Sun that warms our planet and helps plants grow. It comes from nuclear fusion in the Sun's core and travels to Earth in about 8 minutes.
4. How does sunlight help plants grow?Plants use sunlight in photosynthesis to turn light energy into food. Chlorophyll inside their cells captures the light and makes sugars while releasing oxygen.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, ordered by frequency and wavelength.
Photosynthesis: The process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy.
Albedo: The measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed.