At the same time, the sun's enormous energy heats our planet just enough so that Earth's surface is the right temperature for liquid water — the catalyst for life. But what would happen if we lost the sun? What would we feel and see if all of a sudden if just went poof! What might seem like a silly question on the surface was actually an important thought experiment for Albert Einstein.
If that were true, then the first thing that would happen when the sun disappeared is that Earth, along with all the other planets, would go flying off into space. It would be complete and utter chaos in our solar system.
Light, on the other hand, is not instantaneous: It travels at approximately million miles per hour and takes roughly 8 minutes to reach Earth. Therefore, we would still see the sun in our sky eight minutes after it was gone. So, if the speed of light is a constant and the speed of gravity is instantaneous, then we would feel the sun's disappearance before we saw it.
But, as Einstein showed in in his theory of general relativity that he introduced in , the force from gravity is not instantaneous.
In fact, it travels the same speed as light! Therefore, if the sun disappeared, we would remain blissfully unaware for eight minutes that inevitable doom was upon us. The stars would still shine, and electricity would continue to work so cities would remain lit for as long as the power lasted. Even the planets would remain visible for a brief time. For example, when Jupiter is closest to Earth it's about 33 light minutes away , which means we would continue to see the giant planet for over an hour — the time it would take for residual sunlight to reach Jupiter and reflect back to Earth — after the sun was gone.
But after eight minutes, one thing on Earth would come to a screeching halt, explains Michael Stevens , who founded and stars in the widely popular YouTube channel Vsauce. Without sunlight, photosynthesis — the process by which all plants generate food — would stop the second the sunlight winked out in our sky.
Most small plants would die within a matter of days, but that's not what we should be worried about: Earth's average surface temperature would drop to 32 degrees Fahrenheit after the first week, and then to negative degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the first year, Stevens says.
If its mass suddenly disappeared this is equally impossible, by the way , the planet would fly off, like a ball swung on a string and suddenly let go. This article originally appeared in the November issue of Popular Science magazine. Republicans and Democrats have both made appearances in Glasgow for the giant climate conference.
The quasar J is 13 billion light-years away from Earth. But it still can reveal a lot about our own universe. Brighstoneus simmondsi has a big lump around the nostrils, like a chunky alligator. What do you think the answer would be?
Mar 28, Sep 10, We're glad that you're learning new information with us here at Wonderopolis, omar! Alannah Jun 6, Thanks for this info needed it for a school project.
Jun 11, We're happy to help, Alannah! E May 18, May 24, Thanks for being our Wonder Friend, E! Abraham Mar 19, I leaned a lot from this. Thanks to this website and the people who created this website. Mar 20, Cooper Mar 11, Mar 12, I love this article it really goes well with my science calls and what we are learning. Jan 25, That's awesome, tyler! Vikash Bhakta Jan 17, Jan 26, It sounds like this topic really interests you, Vikash!!
Thanks for sharing!! Jan 21, Hi, shaun! What is your specific question about this Wonder? Daveon Sep 29, The Earth would be very cold and very dark and we will die! Aug 14, Alek Aug 7, Imagine if someone was born and can be able to breathe carbon dioxide when the sun went out. I'm pretty sure he or she would live for a lot of years. Aug 9, Jordan May 6, What if we were already living on Mars when the sun went out?
May 9, Madison Hamp May 3, How was the Sun created? Why do we have the Sun? How did God create it? Because I'm pretty sure we all know that it didn't just appear there all by its self. Just like all of the other planets. May 3, Wade Apr 24, If the sun went out there would be no crops no food Also if the sun went out it could create a black or even explode both of them would kill us. Elizabeth J Mar 8, Mar 9, By far the best star!
Mar Apr 24, So cool wonder who could survive the cold? Alicia Feb 3, I learned that humans, animals, and plants all rely on the sun. Lebron23 Feb 21, Feb 6, That burning star is keeping us alive. Thank you, sun! Moackeyuip Nov 29, Nov 29, Simon Nov 15, When the sun burn out where will the best place to live be? Nov 16, Davion Dec 19, Dec 19, Simon Nov 14, I actually got a question will the earth actually have no sun in the future? I read in a book and when that happens people will live in Titan moon of Saturn.
It would not produce plants and trees and then we would die because tresses would be gone and they give us oxygen and take carbon dioxide and with no tree there would be carbon dioxide and we soil die if we breath carbon dioxide. Nov 14, Tommy Oct 17, Earth wouldn't produce life without the sun.
The suns heat makes trees and grass grow because it evaporates the water and that makes rain witch waters plants witch produce life. So therefore earth would be a barren land without the sun. Oct 17, We're glad you joined the conversation, Tommy! Thank for you sharing your thoughts. We would all die just sayin. Sep 27, Ella Sep 9, I am writing an essay about what would happen if there were no heat transfers.
Would there being no sun apply to that? I will Wonder longer than you ever know! Sep 12, STeve Sep 1, The only major gas in our atmosphere that might freeze when it hits is CO2. Wolfie Oct 17, I think wonderopolis is a good resource for kids itshelps my brother learn so much thank you!
Sep 8, Thanks you guys are awesome but what wouldn't earth crack in half it it totally froze. Aug 19, Isaiah Apr 13, The earth without the sun there would be no plants or trees we would die i think Apr 15, Apr 3, Mayelli Apr 30, Without the sun we would have never been here. And everything would freeze up. May 2, That's very true, Mayelli!
Thanks for sharing what you learned! Apr 2, Welcome, izabell! We hope it keeps shining, too! We appreciate your comment!
I'm glad that we won't be alive when the Sun does go out because that sounds scary. Very scary and I really love swimming and losing swimming wouldn't be fun. Apr 7, That's true! The temperature would be too cold without the sun! Mar 23, It does sound a little frightening! Cooper Mar 7, If the sun disapears we would disapear with it too! Also the sun provides heat so, the whole earth will probably freeze. Kayla Feb 22, What would be the impact on the chemical level of life when the sun doesn't reach the earth?
Feb 23, Kya Jan 8, I would like to use this article for an essay I need to write for school. How can I source this article, who's the author? Jan 10, Mike A R Powell Nov 30, An interesting read but with one glaring error: It is true that the Moon and planets are lit by light reflected from the Sun but the stars are not. Dec 2, Samantha Nov 6, I knew that having the moon blocking the sun for a few minutes could cause things being dark, but the sun vanishing and causing darkness forever would be the ultimate doom and be very scary Nov 7, Hi, Samantha!
We agree, it would be very scary. Oct 6, Oct 7, Ethan gill May 26, It was very interesting and was great information. May 26, Great, Ethan gill! Jeshaiah Bland May 6, This was a very fascinating story. How do you come up with all of this information?
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