What Happens to Earth if Sun Becomes a Black Hole?

In summary, if the sun were to magically shrink and become a black hole, it would go out and Earth would freeze, but remain in the same orbit. However, this scenario is highly unlikely as the sun is not massive enough to become a black hole. It will eventually become a Red Dwarf, which will have consequences for the moon and Earth in the long term.
  • #1
linnus
23
0
I have no idea where this goes...
But I have a question. Say if the sun was big enough to turn into a black hole, what will happen to the earth? Will it stay in the same orbital path or will it be suck in by the black hole? Thanks
 
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  • #2
Did this problem with my dad some years ago. If the sun turned into a black hole (assume some magical shriking device or whatever to reduce the sun to a size less than 2km while retaining it's mass)

If it happened instantly the result would be that the sun would go out and we all freeze to death. But it would stay a frozen ball in the same orbit.

The questions happen when you ask, How? Why? Over what length of time? The answers to these questions tell you what happens to other nearby objects. Just for peace of mind, the sun will never become a black hole. As a main sequence G class star in its mass class it will go the Red Dwarf route. Bad for the moon, and then Earth in the long term, but not as spectacular. Sigh. Guess old Sol is just a blue collar worker in the solar world...lol
 
  • #3


If the sun were to become a black hole, it would not have a significant impact on the Earth's orbit. This is because the mass of the sun would remain the same, and it is the mass of an object that determines its gravitational pull. So, the Earth would continue to orbit the black hole just as it orbits the sun now.

However, the Earth would experience some changes due to the absence of the sun's heat and light. The temperature would drop drastically, and without sunlight, photosynthesis would not be possible, leading to a disruption in the food chain. The Earth's atmosphere would also freeze and collapse, making it difficult for life to survive.

Another significant effect would be the loss of the Earth's magnetic field. The sun's magnetic field plays a crucial role in protecting the Earth from harmful cosmic rays and particles. Without it, the Earth's surface would be bombarded with these particles, making it uninhabitable.

In summary, if the sun were to become a black hole, the Earth's orbit would remain the same, but it would face significant challenges in sustaining life due to the absence of sunlight, freezing temperatures, and loss of the magnetic field. It is unlikely that the sun will turn into a black hole anytime soon, as it would require a tremendous increase in its mass, which is not expected to happen.
 

1. What is a black hole and how does it form?

A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, including light, can escape from it. It is formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses under its own gravity.

2. Will the sun become a black hole?

No, the sun does not have enough mass to become a black hole. It will eventually turn into a white dwarf and then a black dwarf, but it will not have the mass required to become a black hole.

3. What will happen to Earth if the sun becomes a black hole?

If the sun were to suddenly become a black hole, Earth's orbit would not be affected. The gravitational pull of the black hole would be the same as the sun's, so the planets would continue to orbit in the same way as before.

4. Will the Earth get sucked into the black hole?

No, the Earth's orbit is stable and will not be affected by the sun becoming a black hole. The only way for Earth to be pulled into a black hole is if it were to get close enough to it, which is highly unlikely.

5. Can black holes die?

While black holes do not technically die, they can lose mass over time through a process called Hawking radiation. This occurs when pairs of particles are created near the event horizon of a black hole, with one particle being pulled into the black hole and the other escaping. This causes the black hole to lose mass and eventually evaporate.

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