Radiation pressure

Radiation pressure is like when you blow on something and it moves away from you. You know how when you blow out candles on your birthday cake, the flame flickers and moves? That's because your breath is pushing the flame with a force called radiation pressure.

In space, there are a lot of things that give off light, like stars and planets. When this light hits another object, it also creates a force called radiation pressure. The force of radiation pressure depends on how much light there is and how reflective the object is.

Imagine a tiny spaceship floating in space. If the spaceship is shiny and the sun is shining on it, the light from the sun will create a force of radiation pressure on the spaceship. This force will make the spaceship move, just like blowing on a toy car would make it move.

Scientists use radiation pressure to help spacecraft move around in space without using fuel. They can use large mirrors or sails to reflect sunlight and create a force of radiation pressure that propels the spacecraft forward.

So, radiation pressure is like a little invisible wind made of light that can push things around in space. It's a force that can be used to move objects without burning any fuel.