RE: Solar sailing vs. laws of physics ?

From: Spike (spike66@comcast.net)
Date: Wed Jul 02 2003 - 21:38:42 MDT

  • Next message: Adrian Tymes: "RE: Solar sailing vs. laws of physics ?"

    >
    > Solar sailing breaks laws of physics
    >
    http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-07/ns-ssb070203.php

    >1. Photons themselves have temperature? Shyeah, right.

    They are talking about Boltzmann temperature, Adrian.
    The energy of a photon is E=h(nu) where nu is the
    frequency. Then you can convert the energy to an
    equivalent temperature by using the Boltzmann's constant,
    which is (I think) about 1.4E-23 newton-meters per kelvin.

    >2. Photons aren't the only thing these sails may
    >reflect. Ever heard of the "solar wind"? That's made
    >of particles.

    Nah, solar wind particles pass right thru the sail
    as if nothing is there. Wouldn't even slow em
    down. spike



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