Question

A $1000W$ carbon-dioxide laser emits light with a wavelength of $10mm$ into a $3.0-mm-$diameter laser beam. What force does the laser beam exert on a completely absorbing target?

Short answer

Force,$F=3.33·{10}^{-6}\mathrm{N}$

Step-by-step solution

LASER

A laser's basis is built on three distinct elements: stimulated emission within an amplifying medium, population inversion of electronics, and an optical resonator.

Find force exerted by beam

The power is $P=1000\mathrm{W}$. A simple formula can be used to calculate the force applied by the beam on the entirely absorbing target.

$F=\frac{P}{c}$,

where $c=3.00·{10}^8\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$is the speed of light. Therefore

$F=3.33·{10}^{-6}\mathrm{N}$