Timeline for Would a magnifying glass be an effective solar sail?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| Jan 3, 2023 at 19:28 | comment | added | Chemomechanics | "the effect will be nearly non-existent" On the contrary; the stronger the lens curvature (i.e., the shorter the focal length), the more the results will approach the outcome of complete absorption, which is that the object assumes the complete momentum carried by the light. I agree, though, that making the lens clearer is a complete waste of time in this context, serving only to decrease the (momentum-transferring) efficiency. | |
| Jan 3, 2023 at 19:25 | history | edited | Chemomechanics | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Dec 20, 2022 at 21:54 | comment | added | Gerald | Conservation of momentum dictates that the momentum that the light carries will be partially tranfered to the lens, the effect will be nearly non-existent and even more so for high-quality, optically-clear lenses. A mirror would be more effective as a solar sail, but there is an even better option: thin mirrors with orbital lenses which target huge quantities of light at a regular solar sail. | |
| Dec 20, 2022 at 21:44 | history | answered | Chemomechanics | CC BY-SA 4.0 |