[NonLinear]

I'm sorry, I really must have missed something.

The ratio of a/g is the ratio of the acceleration from the solar wind (in the + r direction, outward) to the acceleration due to the sun's gravity (in the -r direction, inward).

If a/g > 1.0 the body accelerates away from the sun
If a/g = 1.0 the body is in static equilibrium, and just sits there until something else happens.
If a/g < 1.0 the the body accelerates towards the sun.

This a/g ratio for the earth was roughy 1.63E-14, or
0.0000000000000163. This is much less than 1.0. This means that the earth must offset the sun's gravity by means of an obital velocity, if it is to avoid plunging into the sun.

Were a/g > 1.0, our orbit would not last a minute, and we would be soaring out into space along with everything else in our solar system.

That's how I am reading this. Where have I made a mistake?

[Fish Hunter]

Good question. I assume you are using that excellent NASA web page someone posted before. I will get back to you soon with an answer using that web page (my original analysis looked at the problem in another way).

F H

[Fish Hunter]

Hi NonLinear,

I studied the page. Sound physics. Got me thinking in a different way, and I went back and checked my original equation I used. I found that I left out the initial condition. You "seem" to be RIGHT. The solar effect simply cancels out a little gravitational acceleration and offsets our orbit a small unmeasurable amount. I originally used a kinetic energy approach, which in hindsight was incorrect.

I used "seem", not to discredit your achievement (the math supports you PERIOD), but just that I want to study this solar effect some more and try some different methods of attack, because my gut feeling is that I am on to something and I am one stubborn SOB (I am still thinking the solar pressure shifts the energy balance of the solar system over time, but I need to run a bunch of equations to get a handle on it)

Job well done, man of science !!

F H