Why is it colder in space then on earth since in space you are closer to the sun?

Answer 1

No. In space you are not necessarily closer to the Sun. Mars is farther from the Sun than we are. Temperatures of objects in space are more extreme due to the lack of atmosphere. For example, the Moon, or a space shuttle or satellite, will heat up to 200 F in the Sun and cool to -200 F in the shade. So it depends on where you are and whether you are shielded from the Sun or not.

Answer 2

To understand why, we must understand what heat is. Heat is simply the kinetic energy in atoms and molecules. When you heat something up, you make the atoms and molecules move or vibrate faster than they are.

Space is a vacuum. Thus, there really isn't anything to absorb the energy coming from the sun, thus there is low heat. (now this get a little technical when you start talking about the base temperature of space, slightly above abs. zero, but i'll leave it as this for now.)

Anyways, when you are in space, the only way to gain heat is through absorbing light and infrared radiation from the sun. Thus, it really depends on where you are and if you are in a shadow.

With that in mind, we can see that depending on location and composition of the material, the temperature of that material can vary huge amounts!

On Earth, we are kept relatively warm because the atmosphere, rock, and water absorb the energy emanating from the sun. This allows the planet to stay within a certain temperature range.

Also, you are not always necessarily closer to the sun in space.

Answer 3

You are not always closer to the sun just because you're in space... actually most of space is much farther from our sun than the earth. But the reason it's cold in space is because there is nothing to absorb the heat. We feel the warmth of our atmosphere and from the ground which absorbed that heat from the sun's radiated heat.

If you got direct sunlight on your body in space it would probably burn you pretty bad. I may be wrong though

Answer 4

Actually, most of space is further from the sun than we are, though if you go far enough, you could be close to another star.

If you were in space at the same distance as the Earth, your average temperature would be nearly the same as Earth's - more or less, depending on your reflectivity. It would tend to be a little lower because some of Earth's heat comes from its core. But that average temperature would be the average of your sunward side broiling while your shadow side froze solid.

Answer 5

because the earth has an atmosphere and gravity that holds the heat on the surface, more appropriately, the earth has gravity, which holds the atmosphere in place, the atmosphere allows the heat from the sun to be filtered, and reflects most of the heat. I'm not good at explaining it but I'm basically right.

Answer 6

Because of the open space, their is more room for heat to move from the object it is coming from. In this case it is the sun.

Answer 7

Heat is held by molecules and matter. Because the air on Earth is far more dense than the vacuum of space, you will feel warmer on Earth.

Answer 8

Air absorbs warmth. whilst the air is skinny, like on suited of a mountain, it may no longer take up as numerous the warmth coming from the solar as low-mendacity places like dying Valley. there is not any air in outer area, so subsequently none of that's absorbed. The solar is the main significant determinate of world heating and cooling, simply by fact of Earth's ecosystem.

Answer 9

The green house effect. The atmosphere makes the planet like a green house.

Answer 10

Then why is being on top of a mountain colder than being on the ground?