One possible means of achieving space flight is to place a perfectly reflecting aluminized sheet into Earth 's orbit and to use the light from the Sun to push this solar sail. Suppose such a sail, of area5.60104m2and mass5800kg, is placed in orbit facing the Sun. Ignore all gravitational effects, and assume a solar intensity of 1340 W/m2. (Hint: The radiation pressure by a reflected wave is given by 2 (average power per area)/c.)
(a) What force is exerted on the sail?
F=N
(b) What is the sail's acceleration?
a=m/s2
(c) How long does it take for this sail to reach the Moon, 3.84multiplied by108m away?
t=days