Question

9. One propulsion method that is currently being studied for interstellar travel uses a large sail. The intent is that sunlight striking the sail creates a force that pushes the ship away from the sun, much as wind propels a sailboat. Does such a design have any hope of working and, if so, should the surface facing the sun be shiny like a mirror or black, Sunlight in order to produce the greatest force? a) It will work and it must be shiny to produce the greatest force b) it will not work and can be any surface texture or color. c) we need more time to determine if it will work d) This cannot be tested in real life

Answer 1

option C - we need more time to determine

Solar sails fly on photons, whereas the solar wind is made up of different ionized particles ejected by the Sun. These particles move slower than light and create a force that is less than one percent as strong as light pressure.Solar sails work by capturing the energy from light particles as they bounce off a reflective surface, according to the Department of Energy. ... In our solar system, at distances beyond the orbit of Mars, the sun becomes too faint to push a solar sail, which limits their use deep in space, according to NASA.

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