Thus the sun’s light has more than enough momentum to drive the solar wind…but the light doesn’t drive the wind in the sun’s case
This is because the opacity of the wind is very low and poorly matched to the wavelengths where the sun emits most of its light (optical) -- the solar wind is transparent to optical light, which streams right through it, taking its momentum away rather th
recall:
So, the radiation force is proportional to the flux, but also to the opacity, k
Note: force is the rate of change of momentum (check the units -- mass times acceleration = mass times velocity per time)
(g cm s-2)
(cm s-2)
cm2/particle
flux (ergs cm2 s-1)
opacity (cm2 g-1)
g/particle
| Previous slide | Next slide | Back to first slide | View graphic version |