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The sun shines in space as it does on Earth Yet it is freezing cold in space what causes the difference?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
To understand the difference between relative temperature in space and on Earth, one must understand what causes temperature. Temperature is the amount of relative heat something has, heat being essentially the movement of energy in something. Earth is warm relative to the surrounding space because Earth represents a comparatively dense collection of matter. Earth is warm because its matter absorbs the energy from the sunlight (not in the sense that plants do for photosynthesis, but in the sense that a sunny beach is hotter in the light than in the shade). Space is just that, relatively empty, with a few particles here and there. There is little matter in space to absorb photons (light) from the sun, so there is little in space to heat up. It is only cold in that because there is nothing, there is no insulation, so anything subjected to space loses heat usually much faster than it gains heat.
If space has a "temperature" it is the pervasive background radiation coming from all directions known as the Cosmic Microwave Background, or CMB. This radiation is the "echo" of the Big Bang, the remnant of the hot inflationary origin of our universe. It's only 2.7 degrees kelvin -- 2.7 degrees above absolute zero. A passive object far from any star (between galaxies, say) would reach an equilibrium temperature of about 2.7 K.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe temperature of "space" is measured as degrees Kelvin above absolute zero. The background radiation permeating space is about 2,8 K. Absolute zero is −459.67° Fahrenheit or −273.15° Celsius.
Only in advanced laboratories in a few places on Earth can scientists approach absolute zero.
Space (far form stars and if there were matter to measure the heat of) is colder than on Earth.
But a spaceship orbiting Earth gets rather hot on the side that is illuminated by the Sun (about 1500 Watts per square meter is the heat influx this far from the Sun). The side of that same spaceship away from the Sun or in the Earths shadow gets pretty cold. (A part of the Moon that is almost constantly in shadow has a temperature of about 28 K.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoEarth's atmosphere holds in the Sun's heat, while also generating it's own from the core and mantle. Space can't hold heat
Wiki User
∙ 12y agothe sun shines at the same luminosity (brightness) at all times, we can see the sun in pictures easily becouse, scientist use special filters to look at the sun
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBecause htere is no air
Wiki User
∙ 15y agocuz the son saidd gimme that heat
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What is residual gravity?
Residual gravity is the effective gravity that exists between the earth-moon or the earth-sun combination. When two heavenly bodies interact such as the earth and the sun there is a difference in mass which causes a residual gravity to exist in the space between them. This residual gravity is responsible for the earth's orbit.
Does the mass make a difference to the speed at which something falls to Earth?
no difference..
What causes an increase in thermal energy?
heat is the cause in the increase in thermal energy. the sun also causes it one the earth, because the heat from the sun projects light in a beam onto the earth and heats up the earth.
What causes matter on earth to have weight?
to pull objects toward the sun, and create a gravitational pull of Earth.
Earth scientists assume that the causes of natural events or phenomena can be determined by?
answer it
Why is it freezing in space and not on earth?
See the answer to the question "The sun shines in space as it does on Earth Yet it is freezing cold in space what causes the difference?"
Does sunlight shine on earth and the moon?
yes it shines on earth, but on the moon it only shines on it's front not on it's back side
How does light arrive on earth?
Earth is rotating on its axis and the sun shines on it
How does Mars gets it light?
The sun shines on Mars, just as it shines on the Earth. Since Mars is farther from the sun than the Earth is, it gets less sunlight.
How does the sun gives heat to earth?
it shines light to earth and earth is in the inner solar system.
The Sun's light shines more or less directly on parts of earth because of earth's what?
The sun shines more or less directly on parts of the earth as a function of the earth's axial tilt relative to the ecliptic, and of the earth's diurnal rotation on its axis.
Why did the Earth's and Moon's surfaces evolve differently?
because Earth's and moon's is different planet and difference functional, we can get everything from them and moon's only planet that can help us for soft shines during evening which is got from the sun.
How the sun shines?
in straight lines towards the earth The sun shines light into the Earth's atmosphere and the atmosphere reflects it back onto the Earth to provide power, energy, heat, and light for us all to live.
Does atmosphere on earth rotate along with earth?
For the most part. But difference in movement between the two is what causes much of the weather patterns on the Earth.
What happens when light shines on the Earth?
It illuminates and gives warmth.
What is a precipatation that freezing on its way o earth?
Freezing precipitation is called sleet or freezing rain.
What are the sun effects on earth?
It keeps the earth from freezing.
