If the sun disappeared would its gravitational influence on earth cease immediately?

Question

I gather light takes 9 minutes to reach earth so we wouldn't be none the wiser until after this time - does its gravity behave in a similar way?

Answer 1

These people are just wrong. Gravity travels in waves, and they move at the speed of light. If the sun were to disappear we would lose light and gravitational attraction at exactly the same time. Here is a reference, where 3 physicists explain it: http://www.abc.net.au/science/expert/realexpert/space/03.htm

"gravity does not travel faster than light. The gravitational force also travels at the speed of light. This was postulated by Einstein, and was first measured in 2003 by scientists at National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Virginia. Formally the effects of gravity are manifested through its effect on the shape of space-time, and this distortion moves at the speed of light. So if the Sun were to suddenly disappear then space-time would react to that at the speed of light and in about 8 minutes the Earth would head off in a straight line, along a tangent to its orbit at the time that the gravitational force from the Sun disappeared - ie about 8 mins after the Sun itself disappeared, and at the same time that things suddenly got very dark!

- Prof John Lattanzio, Director, Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics, Monash University"

Classic Newtonian physics assumed instantaneous transmission, though apparently Newton was not too happy with it. Relativity predicted transmission speed of c, and it has been confirmed by experiment.

Answer 2

Since the gravity of the much closer moon has a greater influence on earth than the sun, I would have to say no. We would have to wait 8 or 9 minutes, possibly longer. It would take time to experience changes in already present gravitational effects.

Answer 3

The sun's gravitational influence on earth would cease the moment the sun dissapeared. The only thing is that we people on the earth would come to know about this only after 8 mins., as light takes 8 mins. (not 9) to reach the earth. But I suspect we would not be alive to realize its occurance, as the earth would crash immediately after the sun would disappear & we would not be alive by then.

Answer 4

No it would take 9 minutes as thats how long it takes for the gravitational influence to reach the earth.

Answer 5

many stuff in the bible contradict what technology says. Like Jesus turning water into wine, and making a blind guy see. in case you haven't any longer have been given any faith then you definately have not have been given any faith. I regularly won't be able to convince you to comprehend how some ingredient that is going in direction of technology might nicely be real. yet technology is a convention...in basic terms like treatment is a convention. there are dissimilar theories and a few are real some are not (evolution for representation). How do some experience we "morph" over the years into people from apelike creatures? seems almost as ridiculous as some persons assume God is. God can do some ingredient. If he says he mad the photograph voltaic before than he made earth than this is the way it befell. I evaluate lower back to the question...What have been given right here first, the hen or the egg? And regardless of how puzzling I evaluate approximately it, there is not any low priced respond as nicely God. God created chickens (alongside with one yet another animal) and the chickens laid eggs, and a lot of others etc. they have information that many concerns the bible says is real...Why can no longer you in basic terms take transport of what hasn't been shown yet? Why is it so puzzling to take transport of that Jesus loves you and might provide you a issue in heaven for people who least puzzling needed it. If God had the ability to create earth and the planets, then he had the ability to cause them to in any order he needed. God is Almighty. elementary as that.

Answer 6

No, gravity is actual time,as soon as the Sun dissappears ( though the possibility is remote) the gravity will end simaltenously.I will tell you a small example, keep an Iron Nail on table and take a Magnate near , the magnate will pull the nail as soon as it reaches the range where its gravity will effect the nail, as soon as the magnate is taken afar the pull will be over simaltaneously,understood?

Answer 7

Know any good prayers....we would still have individual gravity as we fly off into space on the 3rd rock that was near the sun.

Answer 8

I would imagine the consequence would be immediate, implying that gravity moves faster than light!

Answer 9

I think it would happen immediately.

Take a rock and tie a string to it. Swing the rock in circles. Cut the string.

Answer 10

8 or9 minuets after it shut off the earth would fly off at a tangent,mercury would be the first.