Work and energy of electromagnetic wave with intensity I

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the work and energy of electromagnetic waves, particularly regarding the equations related to intensity and force on a particle. Participants express confusion about the variable A, with suggestions that it should represent the area of a sphere, 4πr², but note discrepancies in the resulting calculations. There is debate over the interpretation of acceleration, with some asserting that it should be defined as Δv/t rather than c/t, and the necessity of assuming the light source is directional to produce movement. The conversation also touches on whether to account for the decline in radiation pressure as the particle accelerates, indicating a potential overlap with relativity concepts. Overall, the thread emphasizes the importance of correctly interpreting the problem's wording and assumptions.
annamal
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Homework Statement
Suppose a spherical particle of mass m and radius R in space absorbs light of intensity I for time t. (a) How much work does the radiation pressure do to accelerate the particle from rest in the given time it absorbs the light? (b) How much energy carried by the electromagnetic waves is absorbed by the particle over this time based on the radiant energy incident on the particle?
Relevant Equations
##I = \frac{P}{A}##
##P = \frac{W}{t}##
##\rho = \frac{F}{A}##
a) ##\rho = \frac{I}{c} = \frac{F}{A}## for a perfect absorber
##F = ma## where ##a = \frac{c}{t}##
##\frac{I}{c} = \frac{mc}{tA}##
##I = \frac{I^2 tA}{mc^2} = \frac{P}{A}##
##P = \frac{I^2 tA^2}{mc^2} = \frac{W}{t}##
##W = \frac{I^2 t^2A^2}{mc^2}##

I am unsure what A is. I think it should be ##4\pi r^2##, but that doesn't generate the correct answer. The correct answer also has a 0.5 factor in the work equation which I don't know how they get.
 
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annamal said:
I am unsure what A is. I think it should be 4πr2
If the light is being absorbed uniformly over the whole area, why would the particle move?

a=c/t? Shouldn’t that be ##a=\Delta v/t##?
 
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haruspex said:
If the light is being absorbed uniformly over the whole area, why would the particle move?
That's just how the problem is worded.
haruspex said:
a=c/t? Shouldn’t that be ##a=\Delta v/t##?
v = c, which is the speed of light.
 
annamal said:
That's just how the problem is worded.
No, it is your misinterpretation of the problem. For the problem to be solvable you will have to assume the light is coming from a distant point source.
annamal said:
v = c, which is the speed of light.
You wrote F=ma. m is given as the mass of the particle. It does not accelerate to the speed of light.
 
haruspex said:
No, it is your misinterpretation of the problem. For the problem to be solvable you will have to assume the light is coming from a distant point source.
See below. It is worded exactly as
Screen Shot 2022-05-26 at 2.54.07 PM.png


haruspex said:
You wrote F=ma. m is given as the mass of the particle. It does not accelerate to the speed of light.
What does it accelerate to then?
 
annamal said:
See below. It is worded exactly as
Nowhere does it specify where the radiation is coming from. If it were uniformly from all directions there would be no net force on the particle so it would not move.
So you will have to assume it is all coming from the same direction. Can you work out from that what area to use?
annamal said:
What does it accelerate to then?
Your first task is to find the force exerted. From that you can get the acceleration, and the speed that it reaches and the distance that it travels in time t. Then you can calculate the work done on the particle and the KE achieved.

What I am unsure about is whether you are supposed to consider the decline in radiation pressure as the particle gathers speed. Is this part of a relativity course?
 
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haruspex said:
Nowhere does it specify where the radiation is coming from. If it were uniformly from all directions there would be no net force on the particle so it would not move.
So you will have to assume it is all coming from the same direction. Can you work out from that what area to use?

haruspex said:
Your first task is to find the force exerted. From that you can get the acceleration and speed it reaches and distance it travels in time. Then you can calculate the work done on the particle and the KE achieved.

What I am unsure about is whether you are supposed to consider the decline in radiation pressure as the particle gathers speed. Is this part of a relativity course?
No it's not.
 
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