Beefbisquit
Well-Known Member
If the sun just disappeared would it take 8 mins and 20 seconds (that's how long it takes light to get to earth from the sun) for the earth to fly off it's axis, or would it be instantaneous?
I believe it would be an instantaneous effect, instant loss of gravitational pull to me means instant effect.
So, you're both suggesting that the speed at which gravity acts is faster than the speed of light?it would happen right away but we wouldnt know what was happening beacuse we wouldnt see the sun move or vanish before we were..well...gone
Yes, the effect would be instant, how big of an effect I don't know. I imagine a wheel that suddenly looses its balancing weights would be a similar effect on a much larger scale.So, you're both suggesting that the speed at which gravity acts is faster than the speed of light?
Neither. We would still spin on our axis since that has nothing to do with our solar orbit. We would be hit with the gravitational information at the exact same moment that the light and heat disappeared. Gravity travels at the speed of light, not faster. We would continue on our trajectory becoming a rogue planet. No axis deviation necessary.If the sun just disappeared would it take 8 mins and 20 seconds (that's how long it takes light to get to earth from the sun) for the earth to fly off it's axis, or would it be instantaneous?
I believe it would be an instantaneous effect, instant loss of gravitational pull to me means instant effect.
Nope. Not instantaneous.it would happen right away but we wouldnt know what was happening beacuse we wouldnt see the sun move or vanish before we were..well...gone
Maybe I'm not understanding something correctly, we have an orbit relative to the sun, so if it were to 'disappear' our momentum would no longer be directed in an orbit, it would become linear... no? Well, maybe not completely linear because earth would still be affected by other large gravitational masses.Neither. We would still spin on our axis since that has nothing to do with our solar orbit. We would be hit with the gravitational information at the exact same moment that the light and heat disappeared. Gravity travels at the speed of light, not faster. We would continue on our trajectory becoming a rogue planet. No axis deviation necessary.
no im suggesting since the sun is far enough it will look like its still their for about 15 minutes after its gone...anyway..gravity doesnt act its a constant force and im no astro physicist but the effects of the sun disappearing would likely kill all life on earth before we even know what happened because as i explained we will still see light..maybe the light we see (sun) will appear to spin and we will have 5 minutes of day and night as we hurl to our doom lolSo, you're both suggesting that the speed at which gravity acts is faster than the speed of light?
doesnt have to be instantaneous a person to not know whats happening before their done forNope. Not instantaneous.
yes i think we would still see light for a short time after the problem already happened so the average person will not know by way of not seeing the sun before they were instantly frozenbut we would still 'fly off into space'.
With the sun gone, I'd say "in" and not "into", since then we'd be deep in the interstellar flatlands. Jupiter would be the remaining largish mass, but it would be too far and too fast (relative to us) to stay coupled. Imagine a sky in which the brightest object were Sirius. cnMaybe I'm not understanding something correctly, we have an orbit relative to the sun, so if it were to 'disappear' our momentum would no longer be directed in an orbit, it would become linear... no? Well, maybe not completely linear because earth would still be affected by other large gravitational masses.
EDIT: Sorry man, I wasn't really thinking about what 'axis' meant. Our rotation wouldn't be affected, but we would still 'fly off into space'.
I believe it would be an instantaneous effect, instant loss of gravitational pull to me means instant effect.
doesnt have to be instantaneous a person to not know whats happening before their done for
I don't think you understand the question. He is asking if gravity information is at the speed of light or instantaneous.yes i think we would still see light for a short time after the problem already happened so the average person will not know by way of not seeing the sun before they were instantly frozen
well this is not entirely true imo... ambient heat from the sun can warm a whole planet surface even if part isnt facing it whereas a planet with no sun at all will freeze i would guess nearly instantly on the surface..your take on absense and a true absense of the sun arent equal hereIf we would freeze in absence of the sun, the night side would never remain warm.
The night side is not heated by the sun, period. There is no warming of the whole planet at one time as you suggest. Ambient heat from the sun is what I was talking about. How do you think we hold that heat when the moon or mars can't? Our atmosphere will protect us for a little while after the sun vanishes. There is nothing instant about freezing when the earth holds onto the heat like it does.well this is not entirely true imo... ambient heat from the sun can warm a whole planet surface even if part isnt facing it whereas a planet with no sun at all will freeze i would guess nearly instantly on the surface..your take on absense and a true absense of the sun arent equal here