The radiation pressure (Section 22-6) created by electromagnetic waves might someday be used to power spacecraft through the use of a "solar sail," Example 22-6.
(a) Assuming total reflection, what would be the pressure on a solar sail located at the same distance from the Sun as the Earth (where I = 1350 W / m2)?
(b) Suppose the sail material has a mass of 1g / m2. What would be the acceleration of the sail due to solar radiation pressure?
(c) A realistic solar sail would have a payload. How big a sail would you need to accelerate a 100-kg payload at 1 x 10-3 m/s2?