Instructional Video

Can You Push a Spacecraft with Light?

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

In space, there is no wind—but there is an unlimited amount of light. An electrifying video that is part of a larger physics playlist shares current technology scientists use to power spacecraft with light. The narrator is not explaining solar power or power generation but how scientists use photons to push a sail through space.

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CCSS: Adaptable
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Instructional Ideas
Classroom Considerations
  • Content ends at 4:35, and the remaining minute is an advertisement
  • Relies on prior knowledge of the properties of light
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Connects quantum physics to current technological applications
  • Provides subtitles in Chinese and English for the hearing impaired
Cons
  • None