(a) Which would be more effective, a black sail that absorbs photons or a shiny sail that reflects photons back toward the Sun? (Select all true statements.)

? The change of momentum of a reflected photon is greater than the change of momentum of an absorbed photon.

? A shiny sail is more effective.

? The spacecraft gains momentum from the photons that hit the sail.

? A black sail is more effective.

? When a photon is absorbed, all its kinetic energy is converted into kinetic energy of the spacecraft.

? The change of momentum of an absorbed photon is greater than the change of momentum of a reflected photon.

(b) Suppose that 6.1 x 1020 photons hit a shiny sail per second, perpendicular to the sail. Each photon has energy 2.7 eV. What is the magnitude of the force on the sail?

Transcribed Image Text:

7-1 = N 7-1 = N

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a The change of momentum of a reflected photon is gre... View the full answer