Shine On You Crazy Diamond
The Sun, Dear Readers, has often been worshipped as a deity.
It certainly has a valid claim on the "Giver of Life" title.
According to Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity,
gravity travels at the speed of light.
If the sun suddenly vanished, Earth would keep orbiting normally
for 8 minutes and 20 seconds before flying off into space.
As light also travels at the speed of itself there would be no warning.
The First Minutes and Hours
The 8-Minute Delay: We would still see the sun shining and feel its pull.
Sudden Darkness: After 8 minutes and 20 seconds, the light would stop completely
and the moon would go dark becoming just a circle where there are no visible stars.
Loss of Orbit: The Earth would fly off in a straight line into space
at about 30k per second and the Moon will come along for the ride.
Days and Weeks
Freezing Surface: Temperatures would drop fast,
falling below freezing globally within a week.
End of Photosynthesis: Plants would stop making food immediately.
Most small plants would die in days.
No Weather: Rain and the water cycle would stop
because there is no heat to evaporate water.
Long-Term Survival
Frozen Wasteland: Within a year, surface temperatures
would drop to around -100°F (-73°C).
Deep Ocean Life: Deep-sea creatures near hydrothermal vents
could survive for a long time using chemical energy instead of sunlight.
Human Shelters: Humans could only survive deep underground
using nuclear or geothermal energy.
(Well that was fun...Ed.)
regards
Titus
