Consider an electromagnetic wave traveling in the positive y- direction. The magnetic field associated with the wave at some location and at some instant points in the negative x-direction are shown in Figure MCQ21.1. What is the direction of the electric field at this position and at this instant? (a) the positive x-direction (b) the positive y-direction (c) the positive z-direction (d) the negative z-direction (e) the negative y-direction
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Textbook Solutions for College Physics
Question
One possible means of achieving space flight is to place a perfectly reflecting aluminized sheet into Earths orbit and to use the light from the Sun to push this solar sail. Suppose such a sail, of area 6.00 3 104 m2 and mass 6 000 kg, is placed in orbit facing the Sun. (a) What force is exerted on the sail? (b) What is the sails acceleration? (c) How long does it take this sail to reach the Moon, 3.84 3 108 m away? Ignore all gravitational effects and assume a solar intensity of 1 340 W/m2. Hint: The radiation pressure by a reflected wave is given by 2 (average power per unit area)/c.
Solution
The first step in solving 21 problem number trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: One possible means of achieving space flight is to place a perfectly reflecting aluminized sheet into Earths orbit and to use the light from the Sun to push this solar sail. Suppose such a sail, of area 6.00 3 104 m2 and mass 6 000 kg, is placed in orbit facing the Sun. (a) What force is exerted on the sail? (b) What is the sails acceleration? (c) How long does it take this sail to reach the Moon, 3.84 3 108 m away? Ignore all gravitational effects and assume a solar intensity of 1 340 W/m2. Hint: The radiation pressure by a reflected wave is given by 2 (average power per unit area)/c.
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