How would LIGHT be ABLE to push things?

Question

I was just wondering because I have answered a question a while ago asking if light can push things. I am sure of my answer but I guess they may have reason why they answered that light can push things... I want to be updated I want to know more about that so please explain it to me! I also want to know why you answered that light can push objects by the fact that photons are massless particles.

Answer 1

For example, solar sails use a special membrane that gains a small amount of thrust when light reflects of it, pushing it forward.

Answer 2

photons are massless yes, but they do have momentum.

the equation for the momentum with objects without rest mass is p=E/c.

since they have momentum, they can push objects.

Answer 3

You may find this link helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichols_rad...

Answer 4

Solar energy. Stored solar energy may make things move.

Answer 5

Photons have a rest mass of zero..i.e they are massless.  But, they have energy and energy gives something the ability to do work (work in terms of physics .. F*d).    The Energy that this photon has (even thought it doenst have mass) is E = hv  where h is plancks constant and v is the light frequency.   E = mc^2 has two parts to it..the expanded equation looks something like this:

E = Rest energy + Kinetic energy .  For light the "rest energy" part of that equation is zero.

Once something has energy it has momentum, and once it has momentum it has the abiltiy to push something