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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How much force does a torch or flashlight beam apply to a dust particle?
« on: 10/11/2018 20:19:22 »
A visitor to a page on the site about the force exerted on objects by light has suggested that a vertically-angled torch can push particles of dust along.
I've not done the maths, but my instincts are that the force on a dust particle from the flimsy beam of a torch will be tiny - but I wondered if anyone could help me to do the calculation?
So, the question I want to solve is, how much force does the beam from a torch apply to the average dust particle passing through the beam?
I've not done the maths, but my instincts are that the force on a dust particle from the flimsy beam of a torch will be tiny - but I wondered if anyone could help me to do the calculation?
So, the question I want to solve is, how much force does the beam from a torch apply to the average dust particle passing through the beam?