Which one of the following statements is true with regard to a greenhouse ?
The shorter wavelength infrared radiations from the Sun can enter into the greenhouse while longer wavelength infrared radiations from the ground and the plants inside the greenhouse cannot pass back out through the glass.
The shorter wavelength infrared radiations from the Sun can enter into the greenhouse and the longer wavelength infrared radiations from the ground and the plants inside the greenhouse can also pass through the glass.
The shorter wavelength infrared radiations from the Sun cannot enter into the greenhouse while longer wavelength infrared radiations from the ground and the plants inside the greenhouse can pass back out through the glass.
No infrared radiation can pass through the glass of the greenhouse.
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2022
Statement A correctly describes the principle behind a greenhouse effect.
Glass is largely transparent to incoming short-wavelength radiation from the sun (including visible light and some short-wavelength infrared). This radiation warms the interior of the greenhouse (ground, plants, air). The warmed objects then re-emit energy as longer-wavelength infrared radiation (heat). Glass is relatively opaque to this longer-wavelength infrared radiation, trapping the heat inside and causing the temperature to rise. Option A describes this process where shorter wavelengths enter and longer wavelengths cannot easily exit.