Description
Use normal incidence in vacuum with forward transmission and explicitly supplied absorption/reflection fractions.
Light carries momentum as well as energy. Absorbing normally incident radiation transfers momentum, while reversing reflected momentum transfers a larger amount per incident energy. A pressure term requires an explicit intensity, light speed, and accounting of absorbed, reflected, and transmitted fractions.
Use normal incidence in vacuum with forward transmission and explicitly supplied absorption/reflection fractions.
When to use this tool
Use Radiation Pressure Absorption Reflection Factor when you need the modeled normal-incidence radiation pressure for supplied optical fractions.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter intensity, absorption, reflection, lightSpeed. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read pressure. Use the output convention below.
For nonnegative intensity, valid absorption and reflection fractions with their sum<=1, and positive lightSpeed return pressure=intensity*(absorption+2*reflection)/lightSpeed.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| intensity | Incident energy per area per time. | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| absorption | Absorbed fraction of incident intensity. | Required. Finite number; minimum 0; maximum 1. |
| reflection | Reflected fraction, with absorption+reflection<=1. | Required. Finite number; minimum 0; maximum 1. |
| lightSpeed | Positive propagation speed in compatible length per time units. | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| pressure | Pressure | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"intensity": 299792458,
"absorption": 0,
"reflection": 1,
"lightSpeed": 299792458
},
"output": {
"pressure": 2
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- This models normal incidence with absorption and reversal of reflected momentum. It omits oblique incidence, angular scattering, and forces from other transmission models; matching intensity and speed units are required.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Signed zero is exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use a directional radiation-transfer and momentum model for oblique incidence, scattering, or complex transmission. Verify optical fractions and intensity measurements independently.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Acoustic Intensity Impedance Factor
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- Acoustic Energy Density Pressure Term
Return mean potential and total acoustic energy densities for a progressive linear plane wave using RMS pressure.