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How to Calculate Percentage of Energy Absorbed

Energy absorption is a process familiar to anyone who has spent time outdoors. An object left in the sun usually grows warm. This heating effect is the result of the object's absorbing energy from the sun. Not all the energy coming from a source is absorbed. Some is reflected, and some will be transmitted through the material with which the energy interacts. Absorbed energy is usually translated into heat. The amount of energy absorbed by an object may be presented as a percentage of the radiation incident on the object.

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Instructions

- 1
  Add the total energy reflected and the total energy transmitted to obtain M. For example, if 150 J of energy is reflected by an object, while 200 J of energy passes directly through the object, then M = total energy reflected + total energy transmitted = 150 J + 200 J = 350 J.
- 2
  Calculate the total absorbed energy (Q) by subtracting M from the total energy emitted (E) by the source. For example, if the total energy emitted by a source is 1000 J, and 150 J of energy is reflected by an object, while 200 J of energy passes directly through the object, then the total energy absorbed Q = (E) -- (M) = 1000 -- (150 + 200) = 650 J.
- 3
  Divide the total absorbed energy (Q) by the total energy emitted (E) and multiply by 100 to obtain the percentage of energy absorbed. For example, if the total energy emitted by a source is 1000 J, and 650 J is absorbed, the percentage of energy absorbed is 65% = [(Q)/(E)] x 100 = [650/1000] x 100.

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