A plane electromagnetic wave is reflected by a flat surface. I is the intensity of light, θ is the angle of incidence Find the radiation pressure on the surface

Dear Student,

Please find below the solution to the asked query:
 

The generation of radiation pressure results from the momentum property of photons, specifically, changing the momentum when incident radiation strikes a surface. The surface exerts a force on the photons in changing their momentum by Newton's Second Law. A reactive force is applied to the body by Newton's Third Law.

The orientation of a reflector determines the component of momentum normal to its surface, and also affects the frontal area of the surface facing the energy source. Each factor contributes a cosine function, reducing the pressure on the surface. The pressure experienced by a perfectly reflecting planar surface is then:

Pradiation=2IC cos2 θ N-m-2 or Pa

where P is pressure, I is the intensity in W/m2, C is speed of light in vacuum, θ is the angle between the surface normal and the incident radiation.

 

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