This is a type of stellar engine that theoretically could accelerate the sun and solar system in a direction. This is confusing for me though, because it would appear that from the sun’s point of view, it is still sending radiation out equally in every direction. If anything, to me it would make more sense if the sun would accelerate in the opposite direction as the light sail, because some of the reflected radiation would push on the sun.
Here is the wiki post on it,
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_engine)
and here is a Kurzgezagt video on it.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3y8AIEX_dU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3y8AIEX_dU)
Neither of these gave satisfying explanations to me, hope some of you could help.
In: Physics
In the kurzgesagt video, they explicitely state that “most radiation is reflectd around the sun, but in the same direction”. So while some of the photons will indeed be reflected back onto the sun itself, most will not and the net force should point away from the Sun.
Due to gravity, the sail will pull the sun in that same direction as well (gravity works exacts the same force on both involved bodies).
Latest Answers