32. Electromagnetic Waves
Radiation Pressure
10:53 minutes
Problem 31.65
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionA powerful laser portrayed in a movie provides a 3-mm-diameter beam of green light with a power of 3 W. A good agent inside a spacecraft aims the laser beam at an enemy astronaut hovering outside. The mass of the enemy astronaut is 120 kg and the spacecraft 185,000 kg. (a) Determine the “radiation-pressure” force exerted on the enemy by the laser beam assuming her suit is perfectly reflecting. (b) If the enemy is 30 m from the spacecraft’s center of mass, estimate the gravitational force the spacecraft exerts on the enemy. (c) Which of the two forces is larger, and by what factor?
Verified Solution
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
10mPlay a video:
54
views
Was this helpful?
Related Videos
Related Practice