A solar sail allows a spacecraft to use radiation pressure for propulsion, simil
ID: 1478261 • Letter: A
Question
A solar sail allows a spacecraft to use radiation pressure for propulsion, similar to the way wind propels a sailboat. The sails of such spacecraft are made out of enormous reflecting panels. The area of the panels is maximized to catch the largest number of incident photons, thus maximizing the momentum transfer from the incident radiation.
Assume the sail has a total area of 6.00 x 104 m2, and a total mass of 6000 Kg. Also assume that solar radiation on earth has an intensity of 1340 W/m2.
A) What is the Force exerted by the sun on the sail?
B) What is the acceleration of the sail?
How long (in days) would it take to reach the moon?
Explanation / Answer
here,
total area , a = 6 * 10^4 m^2
total mass , m = 6000 kg
intensity , I = 1340 W/m^2
pressure , P = 2*I / c
P = 2 * 1340 /( 3*10^8)
P = 8.93 * 10^-6 N/m^2
(a)
force , F = Pressure *area
F = 8.93 * 10^-6 * 6 * 10^4
F = 0.536 N
the Force exerted by the sun on the sail is 0.536 N
(b)
the accelration , a = F/m
a = 0.536 / 6000
a = 8.93 * 10^-5 m/s^2
the accelration of the sail is 8.93 * 10^-5 m/s^2
(c)
distance of moon , d = 384400 km
d = 384400000 m
let the time taken be t
d = 0.5 * a*t^2
3.844 * 10^8 = 0.5 * 8.93 * 10^-5 t^2
t = 2934140.85 s
t = 34 days
the time taken by it to reach the moon is 34 days
Related Questions
drjack9650@gmail.com
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.