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9th grade Earth's energy balance and albedo worksheet

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Earth's energy balance and albedo

Grade 9 Science Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Read this first

    Albedo (NSIDC)

    SurfaceAlbedo
    open oceanabout 0.06
    bare sea ice0.5 to 0.7
    snow-covered sea iceup to 0.9

  2. 200 W/m² of sunlight hits snow-covered sea ice with albedo 0.9 (NSIDC). How much is absorbed, by Bo's math?

    • About 20 W/m²
    • About 200 W/m²
    • About 180 W/m²
    • About 0.9 W/m²

  3. The same 200 W/m² hits open ocean with albedo 0.06 (NSIDC). How much is absorbed, by Esme's math?

    • About 12 W/m²
    • About 188 W/m²
    • About 140 W/m²
    • About 194 W/m²

  4. Bare sea ice reflects 50 to 70% (NSIDC). Of 200 W/m², how much does it absorb, as a range, by Jun's math?

    • About 130 to 150 W/m²
    • About 50 to 70 W/m²
    • About 100 to 140 W/m²
    • About 60 to 100 W/m²

  5. Earth's energy budget (NASA)

    PartShare of incoming sunlight
    reflected to space29%
    absorbed by the atmosphere23%
    absorbed by the surface48%

  6. Of the 340 W/m² that arrives (NASA), about how much is reflected at 29%, by Kira's math?

    • About 9.9 W/m²
    • About 241 W/m²
    • About 29 W/m²
    • About 99 W/m²

  7. About how much of the 340 W/m² does the surface absorb at 48% (NASA), by Luz's math?

    • About 48 W/m²
    • About 241 W/m²
    • About 78 W/m²
    • About 163 W/m²

  8. NASA: 23% is absorbed by the atmosphere and 48% by the surface. What total share does Earth absorb, by Milo's math?

    • About 100%
    • About 29%
    • About 25%
    • About 71%

  9. Sunbeams striking the equator straight on and the poles at a slant. NASA: the Sun delivers about 1,360 W/m² to a surface facing it, yet the average at the top of the atmosphere is about 340. Why one-fourth, by Pia's reading?

    • Clouds block three-fourths of it
    • Half of Earth is dark, and sunlight strikes the sphere at an angle
    • Earth is four times farther from the Sun
    • Albedo removes three-fourths of it

  10. What is 1,360 W/m² divided by 4 (NASA's planet-wide average), by Ren's math?

    • 340 W/m²
    • 34 W/m²
    • 1,356 W/m²
    • 5,440 W/m²

  11. Use this

    Sunbeams striking the equator straight on and the poles at a slant.

  12. NASA: 45° gets about 70% of the equator's energy. If the equator gets 400 W/m² at noon (model), about how much does 45° get, by Zee's math?

    • About 120 W/m²
    • About 280 W/m²
    • About 360 W/m²
    • About 470 W/m²

  13. Why does Earth's tilt of about 23° cause seasons, by Ari's reading (NASA)?

    • Earth moves much closer to the Sun in summer
    • The poles swap places
    • Each hemisphere in turn gets more direct sunlight and longer days
    • The tilt changes the ocean's albedo
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9th grade Earth's energy balance and albedo worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Explain Earth's energy balance and albedo. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can define albedo (0 to 1) and compare surfaces: open ocean about 0.06, bare sea ice 0.5 to 0.7, snow-covered ice up to 0.9.
  • I can use NASA's energy budget (about 340 W/m²: 29% reflected, 23% absorbed by air, 48% by the surface) and the idea of radiative equilibrium.
  • I can explain why the tropics gain energy and the poles lose it, and how winds and currents carry heat poleward.

Standard: HS-ESS2-4

Words to know

albedo: The fraction of sunlight a surface reflects, from 0 to 1

energy budget: The balance of energy coming in and going out

radiative equilibrium: Incoming energy matched by heat radiated to space

total solar irradiance: Sunlight's power on a surface facing the Sun, about 1,360 W/m²

watt per square meter: Power arriving on each square meter

Common mistakes

Your child reversed albedo. NSIDC: albedo runs from 0 to 1 and tells how much sunlight a surface reflects; a high albedo reflects more and absorbs less.

Your child mixed up which surfaces are bright. NSIDC: open ocean about 0.06, bare sea ice 0.5 to 0.7, snow-covered ice up to 0.9.

Your child mixed up the budget shares. NASA: of 340 W/m², about 29% is reflected, 23% absorbed by the atmosphere and 48% absorbed by the surface.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with earth's energy balance and albedo?

Your child reversed albedo. NSIDC: albedo runs from 0 to 1 and tells how much sunlight a surface reflects; a high albedo reflects more and absorbs less.

Are these 9th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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