Question

The intensity of the sun's radiation incident upon the earth is about i=1.4kw/m2. suppose this is the value for the intensity of sunlight incident upon the satellite's solar panels. what is the total solar power p absorbed by the panels?

Answer 1

Intensity = power/ Area
⇒ Power absorbed = 1× A ⇒ 1.4 × 10∧3 ×(10)
= 14000 Watt = 14 kWatt
time - averaged intensity divided by speed of light in free space is the radiation pressure
P = (1.4 × 1000)/c
Force = pressure × area ⇒ ((1.4× 1000)/(10∧8)) × 10
= 0.00004666666N
0.000047N