Chapter 41: Problem 38

Question: Calculate the radiation pressure $d=1.5~{\rm m}$ away from a $P=500~{\rm W}$ light bulb. Assume that the surface on which the pressure is exerted is perfectly absorbing and that the bulb radiates uniformly in all direction.

Solution: This is similar to the solution to 41.36.

$$I~=~{P\over 4 \pi r^2}~=~17.7~{\rm W/m^2} \ \ \ .$$ (18)

$${\rm Pressure}~=~{{\rm Intensity}\over c}~=~5.9\times 10^{-8}~{\rm N/m^2} \ \ \ .$$ (19)