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Which of the following have the same units as the radiation pressure?

a. [force]/[area]
b. [momentum]
c. [energy]/[volume]
d. [poynting vector]/[velocity]

User Dcochran
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Option a, [force]/[area], has the same units as radiation pressure, since pressure is defined as the force exerted per unit area.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which of the given options have the same units as radiation pressure. Radiation pressure can be understood in terms of the momentum carried by photons hitting a surface. However, the units that directly match the units of radiation pressure are found by considering the definition of pressure itself, which is force exerted per unit area.

Given the options:

  • a. [force]/[area]: This equates to pressure, since force divided by area exactly defines what pressure is.
  • b. [momentum]: Momentum alone, without a division by time or area, does not define pressure.
  • c. [energy]/[volume]: Energy per unit volume defines energy density, not pressure.
  • d. [Poynting vector]/[velocity]: The Poynting vector divided by speed could provide the dimensions of energy flux density, but not pressure directly.

Therefore, the answer is a. [force]/[area], which is the definition of pressure and has the same units as radiation pressure.

User Riceball LEE
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