Transcript Energy

TEKS 4.11C
Identify the Sun as a major source of
energy for the Earth and
understand its role in the growth of
plants, in the creation of winds,
and in the water cycle.
The Sun’s Role: Plant Growth
• Plants are the link between
the Sun’s energy and
people.
• Plant’s take the Sun’s
energy and change it to
food energy.
• When an animal eats plants
- or eats animals that have
eaten plants- it gets food
energy that comes from the
Sun.
The Sun’s Role: Creation of Winds
When the Sun’s
energy strikes the
Earth’s surface, land
heats up faster than
water. The uneven
heating of the
Earth’s surface
produces wind.
* Notice the warm, heated air rises due to density. The nearby cooler air
rushes in to take its place, producing winds.
The Sun’s Role: The Water Cycle
The Sun is the key to the water cycle.
Without the energy from the Sun, the
water cycle would stop. Without
evaporation, water would remain in the
lakes and oceans. Streams would dry
up as they emptied into the ocean. With
no heat, no water would rise into the air
to condense and then precipitate onto
the land, feeding streams and aquifers.