Why do the poles receive less solar energy that the equator does?

The poles receive less solar energy than the equator primarily due to the curvature of the Earth. At the equator, sunlight strikes the surface more directly, resulting in higher energy concentration, while at the poles, sunlight arrives at a more oblique angle, spreading the energy over a larger area. Additionally, the longer path through the atmosphere at higher latitudes leads to more scattering and absorption of sunlight. This combination of factors results in lower solar energy availability at the poles compared to the equator.