Can Light Alter the Velocity of Asteroids in Space?

[BobbyWOMACK]

Hey what's up! So I'm trying to wrap my head around this concept that light is able to push asteroids in space. I understand the Yarkovsky Effect and how it acts as a propulsion system, but I want to know if light is able to push objects in space strictly based on a collision basis. Can it replicate a simple example where to trains collide into each other; Is light able to act as mass colliding with another object altering its velocity?

Thanks

 

[phinds]

Hey what's up! So I'm trying to wrap my head around this concept that light is able to push asteroids in space. I understand the Yarkovsky Effect and how it acts as a propulsion system, but I want to know if light is able to push objects in space strictly based on a collision basis. Can it replicate a simple example where to trains collide into each other; Is light able to act as mass colliding with another object altering its velocity?

Thanks

Google "light sail"

 

[Drakkith]

See here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_pressure