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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

solar rays / the sun's rays

English answer:

"solar rays" and "the sun's rays" are identical in meaning

Added to glossary by Will Matter
Jul 20, 2006 12:23
17 yrs ago
English term

solar rays / the sun's rays

English Other Linguistics
is there any difference between "solar rays" and "the sun's rays"? the text I'm working with has to do with "magnifying glasses and concentrating the rays of the sun to set fire to ...." I found many pages about this subject and in these contexts people seem to prefer "the sun's rays". However, I would like to know why. Is it because of Register. "Solar" seems to be more technical. Your comments will be welcomed.
Many thanks in advance.
Responses
4 +7 No difference
4 +3 the sun's rays
4 +1 Solar rays in this context as

Responses

+7
11 mins
Selected

No difference

Technically, there's no difference. Physically, it's the same thing. However, "solar rays" sounds a little more scientific and you usually seem to be working with books geared towards children. If that's the case here, i'd use "the sun's rays" which might be a little easier for kids to understand. My two cents.
Peer comment(s):
agree Suzan Hamer : If your text is geared to children, it would add to their knowledge and expand their vocabulary to use and explain "solar"; "sun rays, also called solar rays..." maybe.
1 hr
Very good idea, reading IS supposed to be a learning experience. For the "agree" do you prefer "dank u wel", "toda raba" or "thank you"? ;0)
agree Alfa Trans (X)
2 hrs
Thank you very much.
agree jccantrell : This is how I understand it too. If the text is geared to anybody but a scientist or environmentalist, I would use 'sun' instead of solar.
2 hrs
Thanks.
agree Robert Fox
5 hrs
Thank you, again.
neutral Refugio : I think Richard is right that scientists wouldn't say "solar rays" but rather "solar radiation"
6 hrs
But there are no scientists in either the original question or my answer and the contents of Richards answer, per se, have little, if any, bearing on my answer.
agree Lucica Abil (X)
11 hrs
Multumesc.
agree Sophia Finos (X)
13 hrs
Efharisto. Welcome to ProZ.
agree Romanian Translator (X) : Multumesc de urari! Acum ne bucuram de vacanta de vara... in curand mergem acasa in tara :) O vara placuta si dumneavoastra!
4 days
Multumesc foarte mult. ;0) Ce mai faceti?
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "many thanks"
+1
3 mins

Solar rays in this context as

it is more scientific

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2006-07-20 12:30:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The encyclopedia has a good explanation:

www.thefreedictionary.com/solar
Peer comment(s):
agree ErichEko ⟹⭐ : Scientific, yes. Enriching also as people will learn solar = sun.
15 hrs
Something went wrong...
+3
2 hrs

the sun's rays

The term "solar rays" is highly unidiomatic. It is not scientific. If you wan't to be scientific, you could say "solar radiation". But why? "The sun's rays" is perfectly OK.
Peer comment(s):
agree Refugio
4 hrs
Thanks Ruth.
agree Zhuoqi Mills (X) : There is nothing "wrong" with the other explanation, but this one has more impact, gravitas and balls!
1 day 7 hrs
Well, thank you.
agree Michele Fauble
9 days
Something went wrong...
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