How long would daylight last on Earth if the sun disappeared?

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If the sun were to disappear, Earth would continue in a straight line at its current velocity for approximately 8.3 minutes, which is the time it takes for light to travel from the sun to Earth. This delay is due to the propagation of gravity at the speed of light, meaning that the gravitational influence of the sun would also cease after this time. Without the sun's gravitational pull, Earth would no longer orbit and could potentially be influenced by the gravity of other planets, although a collision with another planet like Jupiter would be unlikely unless their paths intersected. The discussion highlights the complexities of gravity and relativity, emphasizing that changes in gravitational forces cannot occur instantaneously. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping the implications of such a hypothetical scenario.
  • #31
It's the same old question, and the same old answer: "It can't happen."

This thread is six years old. It is very bad form to dredge up old threads, and it is also bad form to ask questions of the form "what do the laws of physics say will happen if something that violates the laws of physics occurs?"

Thread locked.
 

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