How does the angle at which sunlight strikes Earth's surface affect the intensity of the sunlight?

Question

A The angle at which sunlight strikes Earth's surface does not affect the intensity of the sunlight.

B As the angle of insolation increases, the intensity of sunlight decreases.

C As the angle of insolation decreases, the intensity of sunlight increases.

D As the angle of insolation decreases, the intensity of sunlight decreases.

Answer 1

Both "B" and "C" can be taken as correct answer.When the angle is more,the same amount of solar radiation falls on a wider area and hence the intensity decreases.

Answer 2

Imagine you have a pellet gun and a smooth, expansive and extremely level cement floor. The gun is the sun, the kinetic energy of the fired pellet is the energy of the sun.

If you were to fire the pellet at a 90 degree angle to the floor, there will be a noticeable impact mark on the floor, as nearly all of the energy of the pellet is focused on a very small area.

Now lets say you aim the gun at a two degree angle to the floor. When the pellet reaches the floor, the same amount of energy it would have directed at the 90 degree angle shot is instead dissipated over several meters (as opposed to a focused point), leaving no intense impact mark.

This is much like the sun.

Answer 3

The intensity of sunlight is the same irregardless of angle BUT the amount of energy delivered per unit area of the Earth's surface is a simple trig. function.  As the ground angle increases the energy per unit area decreases