.. The space yacht is a kind of sphere, the outer shell of which—an unusually thin and light sail—swelled and moved through space, catching the pressure of light rays.. If this ship was left without control in the vicinity of any star.. and the force of gravity was small, it would rush away from the star in a straight line" (Bul P. Planet of the Apes / / Library of Modern Fiction. 1967. Vol. 13, p. 27).
a. What is the maximum acceleration that this space yacht can develop at a distance R from the star, if the star's radiation flux is Φ, the sail area is S, and the yacht's mass is m?
b. What speed would a yacht acquire if it traveled a radius distance from R to R/2 under the influence of radiation? The sail completely reflects the radiation.