From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Wed Jul 02 2003 - 21:07:16 MDT
--- Jeff Davis <jrd1415@yahoo.com> wrote:
> A fun little conundrum.
>
> Solar sailing breaks laws of physics
>
>
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-07/ns-ssb070203.php
Yaaaawn...
1. Photons themselves have temperature? Shyeah,
right.
They do have *energy*, and as stated, the reflected
photons do lose energy - which, in turn, generates the
mechanical energy *and* heat that the guy is looking
for. Yeah, the sails may well start to "heat up
within
seconds" of being deployed - but not enough to, say,
instantly melt, and they can radiate away their heat
on
the non-Sun-facing side.
2. Photons aren't the only thing these sails may
reflect. Ever heard of the "solar wind"? That's made
of particles.
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