Is it possible for the solar wind to propel a small asteroid or meteorite?
Question:
Answer:
Indeed it has a very small effect. The larger effects actually come from the lighjt being put out by the sun. Very small objects actually loose momentum to the pressure of the radiation that the sun puts out, this causes small dust-grain sized objects to slowly spiral into the sun over long time scales, this effect is know as Poynting-Robertson drag. Another effect from sunlight happens to slightly larger objects. Since they rotate they don't reradiate heat exactly in the same direction that they recieve it (much like on earth you will find that the ground is warmest at about 1-2pm, even though the sun was at its most direct line at noon). This slight difference between incoming and outgoing radiation, known as the Yarkovsky effect can make asteroids orbits slightly larger or smaller, depending on how they are rotating. Both of these radiation effects have a larger influence on asteroids than interactions with the solar wind, but there are many, many of these no-gravitational effects that make predicting exact orbits very, very tricky.
not really, as the asteroid would really have to have some special pannels for repelling photons like some space craft designs do. however the solar wind may have some effect, just not a big one.
It is possible, but the only condition being the asteroid should have about 80% silicon content.
Solar wind actually applies pressure to all objects, just as 'regular' wind applies pressure to anything here on earth. For massive objects, however, it tends to be relatively small compared to gravitation. Just as here on earth we tend to be held to the ground by gravity rather than wind blowing us all about.
One could theoretically design a 'solar sail' (different physical concepts than an air foil) to try to use these currents to one's advantage. However, our solar research is pretty far from being that efficient.
it moves cosmic dust but bigger objects is doubtful.the effect of the suns gravity in our solar system would be too powerful.elsewhere in the universe the biggest object eg another star would have the same effect keeping the objects in orbit
More Questions & Answers...