The momentum of light is exactly reversed when reflected straight back from a mirror, assuming negligible recoil of the mirror. Thus the change in momentum is twice the photon momentum. Suppose light of intensity 1.00 kW/m2 reflects from a mirror of area 2.00 m2 . (a) Calculate the energy reflected in 1.00 s. (b) What is the momentum imparted to the mirror? (c) Using the most general form of Newton’s second law, what is the force on the mirror? (d) Does the assumption of no mirror recoil seem reasonable?
Compton effect
The incoming photons' energy must be in the range of an X-ray frequency to generate the Compton effect. The electron does not lose enough energy that reduces the wavelength of scattered photons towards the visible spectrum. As a result, with visible lights, the Compton effect is missing.
Recoil Velocity
The amount of backward thrust or force experienced by a person when he/she shoots a gun in the forward direction is called recoil velocity. This phenomenon always follows the law of conservation of linear momentum.
The momentum of light is exactly reversed when reflected straight back from a mirror, assuming negligible recoil of the mirror. Thus the change in momentum is twice the photon momentum. Suppose light of intensity 1.00 kW/m2 reflects from a mirror of area 2.00 m2 .
(a) Calculate the energy reflected in 1.00 s. (b) What is the momentum imparted to the mirror? (c) Using the most general form of Newton’s second law, what is the force on the mirror? (d) Does the assumption of no mirror recoil seem reasonable?
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