ERIC Number: EJ876088
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jan
Pages: 2
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Rotations Due to Radiation Pressure: 2-D to 3-D Transition Is Interesting!
Waxman, Michael A.
Physics Teacher, v48 n1 p30-31 Jan 2010
Radiation pressure is an important topic within a standard physics course (see, in particular, Refs. 1 and 2). The physics of radiation pressure is described, the magnitude of it is derived, both for the case of a perfectly absorbing surface and of a perfect reflector, and various applications of this interesting effect are discussed, such as space sailing or optical "tweezers." There are, however, relatively few problems that are available as end-of-the-chapter exercises. Below I present a problem I composed that I assign to my students in class and that facilitates a lively class discussion. This problem is somewhat reminiscent of the setting used by P. N. Lebedev in his historic experiments on proving the existence of radiation pressure.
Descriptors: Discussion, Physics, Radiation, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Courses, Scientific Concepts, Problem Solving, Science Instruction, Science Teachers, Universities
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A