Savchenko Problem 13.4.18

Physics · mechanics · fluid-mechanics · optics

Problem

According to a well-known legend, the inhabitants of Syracuse under the leadership of Archimedes burned the ships of the Roman fleet, focusing the light of the Sun on them with flat mirror shields. Assuming that the shield diameter is d = 1 m, the distance to the ships is x = 500 m, and the temperature at which the tree lights up is T ≈\approx 1000 K, estimate the required number of shields.

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