You don't even need to think about photons, since the effect is totally explained by classical electrodynamics: electromagnetic radiation carries momentum, as given from Poynting vector EXH.madmike159 said:I saw a program along time ago where a very light piece of material was caused to move using a laser beam. I know that there would of been a lot of energy because it was a vary intense beam of blue light, but photons have no mass so how do they move anything. If photons can move objects with mass could the have a slight effect on every day actions?
Light has both wave-like and particle-like properties. Photons, which are particles of light, have momentum and can transfer this momentum to objects when they interact with them. This is known as radiation pressure.
While light propulsion has been successfully demonstrated in laboratory settings, it is not yet a practical means of space travel. The amount of force generated by light is very small and would require a significant amount of energy to achieve meaningful propulsion.
Light propulsion has potential applications in the field of micro and nano technology, where small forces can have a significant impact. It can also be used in solar sails for spacecraft propulsion, and in optical tweezers for manipulating microscopic objects.
The color or wavelength of light does not directly affect its ability to move objects. However, different materials may interact with different wavelengths of light in different ways, resulting in varying levels of radiation pressure. For example, a material that reflects blue light well may experience more radiation pressure from blue light than from red light.
Yes, light propulsion can be used to move objects in a vacuum. In fact, it is more efficient in a vacuum as there is no air resistance to counteract the radiation pressure. This is why it is being considered as a potential means of spacecraft propulsion in space.