Actual justification of the Crookes and Nichols radiometers, and failure of solar sails

Abstract

Radiation energy causes fluctuation of the molecules in vanes of

the Crooks radiometer. Through this fluctuation, molecules of the

vanes strike the adjacent air molecules and as reaction cause recoil

of the vanes. It seems that this is also the mechanism of Nichols

radiometer. But, in the vacuum of the space, there are not practically

such molecules to be leaned by the striking molecules of the vanes

of solar sails. So, the vanes will not recoiled to be propelled. It is

shown that a comet’s tail and antitail are common tides produced by

Sun rather than any phenomena produced under influence of radiation

pressure.