A particle of interplanetary dust is close to the Sun and interacts with the Sun's gravitational field as well as with the light emitted by the Sun. If it only interacts appreciably with the Sun, can it be pushed away from the Sun instead of being pulled towards it?
A) No, the gravitational force will always dominate if the object is large enough.
B) No, the gravitational force will always dominate if the object is close enough.
C) Yes, if the object is small enough, radiation pressure will win over.
D) Yes, but the object must be very large so that it can gain enough radiation pressure.
E) None of the previous answers is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiation pressure can exert a significant force on small particles, especially if they have a low mass-to-surface ratio. This force can be strong enough to push the particle away from the Sun, countering the pull of gravity. Therefore, a small particle of interplanetary dust close to the Sun can be pushed away from it by radiation pressure.

A Particle of Interplanetary Dust Is Close to the Sun