The Law of Orbits

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west - 29 Nov 2006 02:36 GMT

If this question could be answered, it would straighten out some confusion
for me.

Let's say the sun vanishes instantly. We wouldn't go dark until 8 minutes
later. However, what happens to the earth's orbit? Would it also take 8
minutes for the earth to fly out of its orbit? All comments most welcomed &
thanks.

Cordially,
west

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Double-A - 29 Nov 2006 03:08 GMT

> If this question could be answered, it would straighten out some confusion
> for me.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Cordially,
> west

Well, that's still being debated in these newsgroups. Wouldn't it be
nice if it really happened so that before we all froze to death, we
could finally know the answer for sure?

Double-A

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Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th - 29 Nov 2006 03:10 GMT

> If this question could be answered, it would straighten out some
> confusion for me.
>
> Let's say the sun vanishes instantly.

Non physical.

> We wouldn't go dark until 8 minutes
> later. However, what happens to the earth's orbit? Would it also take 8
> minutes for the earth to fly out of its orbit? All comments most
> welcomed & thanks.

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/GR/grav_speed.html

Klazmon.

> Cordially,
> west

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Matty-o - 29 Nov 2006 03:48 GMT

> If this question could be answered, it would straighten out some confusion
> for me.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Cordially,
> west

A pretty good question. About a year ago, I really got into it on
rec.arts.startrek.tech about this very thing (it was regarding the Star Trek
movie "Generations". The villian of the movie planned to destroy a star,
thus altering the path of the "Nexus" through the galaxy. Don't even get me
started on the plot holes in that storyline.....). Anyhoo, I don't think
anybody knows for sure. I propose that we destroy the sun with a trilithium
explosive device and see what happens.....

Matty-o

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Space Forum / Astronomy / November 2006

The Law of Orbits