In: Physics
Suppose the average intensity of the solar radiation that
strikes normally on a surface just outside Earth's atmosphere is
1.4 kW/m2. (It is actually 1.4 kW/m2.)
(a) What would be the radiation pressure
pr exerted on this surface, assuming complete
absorption? (b) For comparison, find the ratio of
pr to Earth's sea-level atmospheric pressure,
which is 1.0 x 105 Pa.
intensity of solar radiation is I = 1.4 kW/m2
Radiation pressure is P = I / c
= 1.4 kW/m2 / 3 x 108 m/s
= 4.667 x 10-6 N/m2
(b)
The ratio between earth's sea-level atmospheric pressure is
P / Po = 4.667 x 10-6 N/m2 / 1 x 105 N/m2
= 4.667 x 10-11 N/m2