...Beauty, cleaning, DIY tips and more - free to join!
   Login   Contact us   Site map   Puzzle Club   Ask a question    Newsletter

What kind of path would the planets follow if suddenly their attraction to the sun no longer existed?


Question asked by: physics101

Asked on: 08 Oct 2008

If the sun were plucked from the sky, then nothing would happen until the message the sun had gone had been communicated to the planets at light speed.

So for the first eight minutes, nothing at all would happen to the orbit of the earth.

Then when the sun was gone and the topology of space had changed accordingly, the gravitation of other bodies would become the dominant force and the planets may either drift aimlessly or start to pull for instance towards Jupiter.

By: knowitall
Replied at: 12 Oct 2008
star star star star star
Average rating for this answer is 4.5 / 5

Rate Answer
Comment or provide your answer to this question
No comments have been added to this question "What kind of path would the planets follow if suddenly their attraction to the sun no longer existed?".
Ask a New Question

Find out more about Physics

Physics Questions and Answers

planets Questions and Answers

Next question: Why don't the passengers fall out when a rollercoaster goes upside down?


Become a Member! It's Free >>>

Share on Facebook: On Twitter: TwitterTweet this!

Question Keywords

attraction  sun  existed  longer  suddenly  kind  path  

More Questions:

Ice & Water
Draw A Diagram Showing How The Image Is Produced In A Compound Microscope
Gravaitational Force
A 83.3 Kg Solid Cylinder, 2.93 M Long And With An End Radius Of 3.7 Cm, Stands On One End. How Much Pressure Does It Exert? The Acceleration Of Gravity Is 9.8 M/s2 . Answer In Units Of KPa.
True Or False