Terminal Velocity of Objects Falling into the Sun

[God Plays Dice]

Does an object falling into the sun reach approximately the speed of light?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Not even close. It would impact at about 600 km/s.

 

[DaveC426913]

Not even close.

[ EDIT You're fast! ]

 

[DaveC426913]

Not even close. It would impact at about 600 km/s.

Don't you have to know from how far it's falling to provide a value?

 

[pbuk]

Don't you have to know from how far it's falling to provide a value?

No, assume infinity and look up the escape velocity.

 

[God Plays Dice]

What about this calc

A= GM/r^2

A= 10^-11 10^30 / 10^12
= 10^7

That's pretty fast, does this not apply?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Acceleration is not velocity. And your calculation has wrong numbers in it.

 

[nasu]

What about this calc

A= GM/r^2

A= 10^-11 10^30 / 10^12
= 10^7

That's pretty fast, does this not apply?

You are trying to calculate the gravitational acceleration on the "surface" of the Sun.
If you do it correctly you will get about 300 m/s^2.

But this is not a speed anyway. You cannot compare this with the speed of light (or any speed).

 

[Stephanus]

You are trying to calculate the gravitational acceleration on the "surface" of the Sun.
If you do it correctly you will get about 300 m/s^2.

But this is not a speed anyway. You cannot compare this with the speed of light (or any speed).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun
I think it's the escape velocity. If you put it infinitely. I'm no physicist, just using logic.
Vanadium is right

 

[Stephanus]

Don't you have to know from how far it's falling to provide a value?

I think if you drop it infinitely, it's the escape velocity.

 

[nasu]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun
I think it's the escape velocity. If you put it infinitely. I'm no physicist, just using logic.
Vanadium is right

No, that formula is an acceleration and not a velocity.
I did not say anything about Vanadium's post.

 

[DaveC426913]

I think if you drop it infinitely, it's the escape velocity.

Yes, I was about to follow up with the assumption that it falls from infinity.
Even if it doesn't, that still acts as the upper limit of final velocity.