How much water would it take to extinguish the sun?

Answer 1

Okay you asked this question and my first response was to say, your nuts! but then i thought that you probably weren't actually considering it, its more like a theoretical question, much like how many car park spaces there are on the moon, because of this we can create an answer, that although might be never ever applied will give us some kind of comparison, and being able to compare things is useful because it allows us to compare between something that we don't know and something we do. e.g if you walked briskly the distance that the earth goes around the sun, it would take, almost 18000 years. So in answer to your question:

The suns temperature varies greatly, with the temperature at the core being 13.6 million Kelvin, and the temp of Corona being 5 million K, the surface temperature is much less than that.
So let us make the assumption that the average temp is 8 Million Kelvin, We're makng a big assumption but remember at this point Orders of magnitude is more important that exact numbers.

the sun is made from roughly 75% hydrogen and 25% Helium. the mass of the sun is 1.98 x10^30 kg. Let us assume therefore that 75% hydrogen = 1.485 x10^29kg of hydrogen and 25% helium = 4.95x10^29 kg.

now using basic thermo Q(energy) = mass(m)(kg) x specific heat capacity (Cp)(j.kg) x Temperature (T)(K).

so for hydrogen with = Q = (1.485 x10^29kg) x (28.8Kj/kg) x (8x10^6K) = 3.42144x10^40Joules.

Helium =Q = (4.95x10^29 kg)x(10.4KJ/kg)x(8x10^6K) =4.116x10^40 Joules.

Total energy at any one point in time (very approx) 7.5x10^40joules.

The amount of water required to absorb the energy of the sun. this is a bit weird because we have to say what temperature range of the water is used, we cannot say Liquid water becuase at 0 pressure the liquid is a gas already, we could say that the average temperature change of the water is half way between the temperature of the sun and the temperature that we would be happy that it is extinguished at, because we;re working with Orders of magnitude rather than numbers lets say that on average each kg of water will change temperature by 4 million Kelvin, this is a bit weird because the gaseus water would expand so fast that it may not absorb that amount of heat.
However water the molecule is going to break up and become ions rather than stay as a molecule once you get to relatively high temperatures. However Ignoring that, as well as a thousand other reasons. we could say.

specific heat capacity of Water in gas form (Cp) = 1970j/kg)

q= m Cp dT m = q/ (Cp dT)

7.5x10^40 J / (1970 x 4 million) = 9.5x10^30 kg

this is a mass of water 5 times bigger than the sun.

But wait!!!! lest not forget conservation of energy, Heat can only be lost from a system ( the sun) by radiating energy) which means to radiate more energy faster, the surface area of the sun would have to increase massively. in astronomical terms this can take billions of years. remember until the Energy is radiated away from the sun, it will still be there in the form of alot of very hot stuff! however hopefully this amount of water is likely to stop the nuclear fussion reactions from starting again. One very small problem is that this amount of water, probably doesnt exist In the universe!

So perhaps not the best way of extinguishing a star.
but always fun to think about.

Answer 2

In a way it would. Water would just make the Sun larger and larger and burn more brightly, but at some point, it would be so large that it would be unstable and explode (nova). If the water had been added fast enough, it would supernova and then there would only be a black hole left. Not exactly extinguished but it would not be emitting any light or heat.

Answer 3

Pretend that the sun is the size of a marble, then you would need to put the marble into a glass full of water. Maybe it wouldn't extinguish, but make the water boil until it all evaporates.

Well, thats my theory, who knows what would actually happen.

Answer 4

You wouldn't extinguish the sun, but if a great enough mass of water was captured by the sun it would become a black hole, and cease to emit light.

Answer 5

Water wouldn't work, as prev respondents have said, this would only add fuel to stoke the nuclear furnace. Iron would do the trick..fusion of Fe nuclei is energetically unfavourable. What you need is a neutron star of at least 10 solar masses and fire it into the heart of the sun. Prediction.. you get a supernova and a black hole. Thinking of playing pool with stellar bodies?! lol

Answer 6

The content is equal to one bottle of Bud'.

First chug the bottle empty outside on sunny day.

Second, fill just emptied container with tap water.

Third, position yourself so arm holding filled glass is fully extended so looking up beside arm it would appear you are about to pour content upon our sun.

Fourth, move round base of Bud' so it rotates at arm end to
cover entire burning solar disk. Stare upwards through base bearing liquid above and there one has the water it takes
to extinguish the sun. Thank you. One final point.

Fifth, a freshly opened bottle of Bud' would also work, but
never ever warm your beer when tap water is nearby.
Don't take my word on it. Go field test my assertions.

Answer 7

It takes just a drop of teers from the eyes the Creator to extinguish the son.

Answer 8

but wait, if we try to pour water on the sun, couldn't the water like evaporate or something before reaching the sun's center

Answer 9

No amount of water could do it.

The sun's light comes from fusion, not combustion, so it can't be 'extinguished' the way a fire can.

Answer 10

I suspect water would have the opposite effect than you desire. The water would instantly be separated into hydrogen, and oxygen, fueling the reaction.