a white surface A common misconception is that every color surface will experience the same radiation pressure. However, the pressure is related to the change in momentum of the light. With a black object, all of the light is absorbed, so the radiation pressure is proportional to the incident momentum. With a colored object, some of the light is reflected, thus increasing the change in momentum of the light and therefore increasing the radiation pressure as compared to the black object. For a white object, the maximum amount of light is reflected off the surface, creating the greatest change in momentum of the light and the greatest radiation pressure.