How long does it take for the energy from the core to get to the surface of the sun?

Answer 1

The current understanding is that energy generated at the core must be passed practically molecule-to-molecule out to the photosphere. The plasma near the core is so dense that gamma-ray photons only travel millimeters until they are absorbed by another atom. So the process more closely resembles "conduction" than the "radiation" that it technically is.

For heat from the core, estimates of the transport time vary considerably, but is thought to be between 10,000 and 170,000 years. Neutrinos generated by the fusion avoid re-absorption and escape almost immediately.

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Answer 2

It takes about 1,000,000 [1] years, on average. for a photon to travel from the Suns core to the surface. Neutrons make the same passage in seconds.

This is because the density is so great at those depths, that there is always something in the way to prevent the photon from getting to the surface. A bit like a "mad" pinball machine. The photon is bounced this way and that, sometimes back to where it started.

1. Estimates range from 17,000 years to 50 million years. [See related link]

Answer 3

A photon of light takes about a million years to escape from the Sun.

This is because, as the photon makes a random move, it will hit another photon, and move off in another direction. Because of the density, and the amount of other photons, it can take this amount of time to reach the surface of the Sun.

Once free of the Sun, the photon is unaffected and can "stream" out at the speed of light to wherever it wants to go.

Answer 4

The energy Generated in the Core can take anything from 10,000 to 170,000 years to reach the Suns surface as it is constantly bounced about inside before it finally makes it all the way out. Then it only takes about 8 minutes to reach us.

Answer 5

The distance from the Earth to the Sun varies because the Earth's orbit about the Sun is elliptical.At it's closest, the distance is 91,402,000 miles and it's farthest distance it is 94,512,000 miles.This gives an average distance of 92,957,000 miles. Light travels at 186,282 miles per second. Dividing the average distance by the speed of light gives 499.01225 seconds which is 8.3168708 minutes.

Answer 6

It takes about 5 minutes for the suns light to reach the earth

Answer 7

study island answer : It can take more than a million years.

Answer 8

Light from Sun takes a bit over 8 minutes to reach the Earth. This means that if something happens on the Sun we would only see and feel it 8 minutes later.

Answer 9

The exact figure can only be estimated, but it is likely between 10,000 and 200,000 years, based on the density of the Sun's mass at the points of fusion.

Answer 10

Aproximatly 64 hours, a long time, it goes the speed of 11254 MPH, from billions of miles away.