Someone plans to float a small, totally absorbing sphere 0.500 m above an isotropic point source of light, so that the upward radiation force from the light matches the downward gravitational force on the sphere. The sphere’s density is 19.0 g/cm3, and its radius is 2.00 mm. (a) What power would be required of the light source? (b) Even if such a source were made, why would the support of the sphere be unstable?

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Chapter16: Electromagnetic Waves
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 49P: A plane electromagnetic wave travels northward. At one instant, its electric field has a magnitude...
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Someone plans to float a small, totally absorbing sphere
0.500 m above an isotropic point source of light, so that the upward
radiation force from the light matches the downward gravitational
force on the sphere. The sphere’s density is 19.0 g/cm3, and its
radius is 2.00 mm. (a) What power would be required of the light
source? (b) Even if such a source were made, why would the
support of the sphere be unstable?

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