why hasnt this solar light pressure affected the orbit of the planets in some way? It seems to me that over the course of billions of years it would actually have driven the planets away from the sun
2007-02-02 02:53:19 · 8 answers · asked by David W 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This is one of the great inconsistencies between quantum principles and relativity.
In relativity, photons don't have mass...but EVERYTHING has mass in quantum mechanics!
The planets have too much mass for photons to affect their orbits...the affect of gravity is probably more due to quantum particle pressures in relation to the object these particles contact....the more mass an object has, the greater the force of the quantum particle contacting it. Einstein called it a curve in the properties of space and time, which is not too hard to fathom when you consider an event on the sun won't affect us here on earth for a lapse of about 8 minutes...the length of time it takes for light to travel from there to here.
Scientists are still trying to work our the inconsistencies...both theories work TOO well for both to be wrong.
2007-02-02 03:03:43 · answer #1 · answered by bradxschuman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually the solar light pressure affects planet orbits, but it's in equilibrium with the other forces acting in the solar system. If that light pressure was gone, probably planets would start falling slowly towards the sun.
2007-02-02 04:59:51 · answer #2 · answered by ceratias 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two different masses rest mass, and relativistic mass.
Rest mass is the mass an object has when its not moving. Its velocity is zero.
Relativistic mass is the mass an object appears to have when it is traveling at a velocity other than zero. There is a difference,
Photons have a zero restmass, but photons travel at the speed of light, so they can have a relativistic mass. In fact if you could "stop" a photon it should cease to exist, so when you talk about you should always consider the relativistic mass.
2007-02-02 05:28:30 · answer #3 · answered by sparrowhawk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you're outstanding on your assumption that a photon has no mass. For a particle to be shifting on the top "speed decrease" (speed of sunshine) it would desire to certainly be mass-much less. So how will it push a photograph voltaic sail? that's substantial bear in ideas that photons (lighting fixtures) have a duality approximately them. they're the two debris and a wave of radiation. So if we take care of the sunshine as an electric powered magnetic wave we are able to communicate the poynting vector: S = E go B/mu0. E = electric powered container B = magnetic container mu0 =permittivity of loose area The poynting vector is the potential flow of an E&M wave. From the poynting vector, radiation rigidity could be mentioned. This rigidity is exerted on the sail floor at impact inflicting an potential circulate and for this reason a momentum circulate. Unit diagnosis: The poynting vector has the gadgets of Watts/ m^2. or means in line with area. If we seem on the gadgets we are able to pull out means = potential/2d = rigidity * distance /time So, rigidity in line with area is comparable to rigidity. for this reason watts/area = rigidity *speed. So the potential flow to the sail would be in terms of rigidity exerted on a floor at some speed. for further data: verify wikipedia on the matters of wave potential, electromagnetic waves, poynting vector, radiation rigidity. Any questions enable me understand.
2016-11-24 19:10:21 · answer #4 · answered by inabinet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As we talk about masses,we can say that the mass of light in all these years in sum is (of course) equal to the mass of the sun in total
but you can imagine that this big mass of the sun is made of small masses that they impact with planets in small continuos quantities that can not be effictive on these planets (the same of our masses when we jump on the surface of earth)
2007-02-02 04:28:50 · answer #5 · answered by udayali1976 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I imagine that the earth absorbs the light and therefore if there is any momentum carried over to the earth it is very insignificant and not stronger than the suns gravitational pull on the earth.
2007-02-02 03:03:39 · answer #6 · answered by E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you are building materials in the lightsaid dense enough so that the photon would not pass thru and not be as porous like earth.
Like putting water in the ground it will seep thru, unless you build a cement wall in which it will not pass thru
2007-02-02 02:58:44 · answer #7 · answered by Big C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But it is small compared to the mass of the earth. It is likely included in our gravitational constants though.
2007-02-02 03:06:13 · answer #8 · answered by dopplerjeff5000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋