723069-2-45P AID: 223712 | 05/16/2020

The radiation pressure of the sun

Given the time averaged power density

S av  1400Wb / m 2

a)
Perfect absorber
The radiation pressured exerted by the sun on the flat object located at the earth surface if
the object is perfect absorber is given by
S av
Pav 
c c= velocity of light

1400
Pav 
3  108

Pav  4.67 106 N  m 2

b)
Perfect reflector
The radiation pressure will be double in case of perfect reflector

Pav  2  4.67  10 6 N  m 2

Pav  9.33  106 N  m 2