2006-09-27 09:56:05 · 14 answers · asked by jomama1234 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
8.32 minutes.
2006-09-27 10:06:24 · answer #1 · answered by Otis F 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course, the question is further complicated by the lack of a universal 'NOW'.
What travels faster than light? Nothing. So what do we have to compare the time when the Sun blows up to. If a very very fast messenger was standing at the sun, and ran to tell us as soon as it exploded, then it would take at least 8 minutes. Hence we, on earth, may as well assume that it is blowing up when the messenger reaches us. hence, if the Sun blows up, we would know about it instantly, by Earth's frame of reference.
An interesting point also is that if you were on the Sun, and it blew up, you would see the people on Earth walking around cheerfully for another 16 minutes before they realised what was happening, due to the light taking time to get there and back! What can I say, relativity is very confusing.
2006-09-27 10:44:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One would presume it would take 8 minutes for Earth to realize the Sun had gone Supernova since theoretically nothing can travel faster that light. If it was to go, might there not be a shockwave preceding the stellar atmospheric outer layers reaching Earth. Not to mention, would we not see the expansion of our Sun? Even though our Sun has between 5 and 10 Billion years left in it.
2006-09-27 12:07:36 · answer #3 · answered by profile image 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heat is transmitted through conduction, convection, and radiation. The heat that reaches us from the Sun is infrared radiation, which travels at the speed of light. So, it takes about 8 minutes for it to reach Earth from the Sun.
We'd know about it in a very short period of time. The earth would start cooling after the 8 minutes.. but would probably be a few days until the earth became uninhabitable for us.
2006-09-27 10:07:27 · answer #4 · answered by j H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun is eight light-minutes away from us, or approx 152,097,701 km away. If it burnt out or exploded, the light itself would take 8 minutes travelling at 299,792.458 kilometers per second to cross that distance and reach us. Heavier radiation and solar debris would take quite a bit longer, depending on their speed.
Although, if the sun were to explode, we would have months if not decades of warning beforehand.
2006-09-27 10:02:34 · answer #5 · answered by chiang-ku 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
8 minutes, which is the amount of time it would take for light to travel (at the speed of light) from the Sun to the Earth.
2006-09-27 10:00:20 · answer #6 · answered by Yahooracle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
About 8 minutes plus the time from when someone realizes it's happening. There's millions of people watching the sky all the time plus observation satellites.
2006-09-27 10:26:29 · answer #7 · answered by helix71 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth would not realise it, as far as i know it doesunt think about that sort of this. the peole on earth would know very quick, it would however take quite a while for it to engulf the earth. saying that thought people would not be able to live on the planet a long time before it got eaten by the sun.
2006-09-27 10:00:02 · answer #8 · answered by origamix60 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
7 minutes 13 seconds
2006-10-01 09:35:59 · answer #9 · answered by longblondedude 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
8 minutes
2006-09-27 09:58:29 · answer #10 · answered by stigma138 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never..the Republicans still think Iraq caused 9/11...those idiots.
2006-09-27 10:04:12 · answer #11 · answered by the man 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋