When Direct Solar Beam Falls on a Sheet of Glass

question 2

Essay

When direct solar beam falls on a sheet of glass, a part of solar energy is transmitted through glass into the building interior, a part is reflected, and a part is absorbed by the glass. For a clear glass sheet, the percentage of transmitted energy is 85%, reflected energy is 10% and the remaining 5% is absorbed by glass. What is your estimate of the percentage solar heat gain (SHG)of this glass, defined as the percentage of solar energy that enters the building interior? Explain.

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Definitions:

Troposphere

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where most weather phenomena occur, extending from the Earth's surface to about 8 to 15 kilometers above.

Stratosphere

The stratosphere is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere located above the troposphere, characterized by a slight temperature increase with altitude and the presence of the ozone layer.

Ozone

A molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, found in the Earth's stratosphere, where it plays a critical role in protecting living organisms from ultraviolet radiation.

Lichen

A symbiotic organism composed of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, typically an alga or cyanobacterium, found on rocks, trees, and soil.