Two astronauts, working in the zero-g vacuum of space, are testing an advanced-materials ultra-light-weight retro-reflecting structure forits potential as a solar sail. A surprisingly rigid square section of the material, with an edge length of 12.7 cm and a mass of only 498.1 mg, is completelycomposed of corner reflectors. These reflectors have the convenient property that an incident beam of light is reflected back towards its source even when theangle of incidence is not perpendicular. The astronauts are using a 988 W laser with a beam that has a diameter of 4.36 mm.▷ A The two astronauts, separated by 6.49 m, are at rest in some frame of reference. The first astronaut gently releases the test square so that it is at rest. Thelaser is then directed at the center of the square with approximately normal incidence. How much time, in seconds, elapses before the test square crosses thedistance between the two astronauts?At =

The force exerted by the laser beam on the square can be calculated using the formula:

Answered: Two astronauts, working in the zero-g…

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