radiation pressure

noun

, Physics.

1. the pressure exerted on a surface by electromagnetic radiation or by sound waves.

radiation pressure

1. Force per unit area exerted by waves or particles of radiation, especially photons. Though photons have no mass, they do have momentum, and can transfer that momentum to other particles upon impact. The amount of pressure exerted by a given amount of radiation depends on whether the radiation is absorbed or reflected. Radiation pressure is responsible for the Casimir effect; solar radiation pressure is exploited in the design of solar sails .

Word History and Origins

Origin of radiation pressure¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

A solar sail is a foldable, lightweight, and highly reflective membrane capable of harnessing the effect of the sun’s radiation pressure to propel a spacecraft forward without fuel.

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