0
Gamma rays are constantly speeding toward Earth from sources around the universe. These high-energy waves are blocked by the atmosphere, keeping us nice and safe. A nearby gamma-ray burst could potentially alter the chemistry of the upper atmosphere, destroying the ozone layer and producing brown nitrogen dioxide, which would reduce global temperatures.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThis can't be known in advance. Satellites detect about one GRB per day.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt depends how far away the light source is. Sunlight takes 8 minutes, but starlight can take years (that´s why lightyears are a distance).
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoAt the speed of light.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How long would it take gamma rays from an exploding star to reach earth?
Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, and thus they travel at the speed of light. If a star is one light year away, it will reach Earth in one year.
Can you think of any objects or processes outside the solar system that might affect the earth?
A gamma ray burst would certainly affect earth, depending on how far away it is. It could come from outside the solar system.
What would happen if you dropped a hammer and a feather here on earth?
The feather would reach the earth first dumb@$$
What would most likely happen if Earth moved closer to the sun?
It would burst up in flames. If earth moved closer to the sun we would all die and suffer of the heat of the sun and also if the earth got closer to the sun earth can most likely melt.
How does angle of incidence control the intensity of solar radiation received at the earth's surface?
The angle of incidence is what trajectory the suns burst is taking. If the burst is pointed 20 degrees in any direction, slightly away from the earth, then the intensity of the impact on earth would be less severe since only a portion of the burst is actually making contact. While the rest of it flies into space for millions and millions and millions of kilometers.
What if earth were hit by a gamma ray burst?
The earth would be completely destroyed.
What would happen if a gamma ray burst hit the earth?
The atmosphere would be fried and the Earth would disentegrate.
What would happen to earth if it got hit by a gamma-ray burst?
Earth gets hit every day by gamma-ray bursts - from far, far away. Depending on how near the gamma-ray burst is, it may cause some serious damage.
How long would it take gamma rays from an exploding star to reach earth?
Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, and thus they travel at the speed of light. If a star is one light year away, it will reach Earth in one year.
How long would a sudden light burst from the galaxy center take to reach earth?
25,000 years.
What would happen if you shot a black hole straight though the center with a gamma ray burst?
The gamma rays would be absorbed, the black hole's mass would increase.
What would happen if Earth erupted gamma rays?
The earth would have to be a supermassive dying star to emit gamma rays.
Will a gamma ray burst end the world?
There has been some speculation that a gamma ray burst has affected life on earth at one or more intervals in the past. And it is possible for it to happen in the future. For a gamma ray burst to destroy earth, the source would have to be moderately close, and because one characteristic of the gamma ray burst is that the emitting body directs two separate "rays" out in opposite directions. We'd have to be exactly in the wrong place at the wrong time and end up on an axial alignment with the gamma ray beam. As the beam is of short duration, the earth would shield a portion of life from its direct effects, but the destruction (ionization) of our atmosphere by the high radiation could burn the entire surface of the planet. Even on the "back side" away from the direction the beam originated in. This could happen, but will it happen? It's an event of low probability. Not that anyone will be spared if we "win the lottery" and get tagged.
What is a gamma pulse?
I presume you mean a "gamma ray burst." This is a burst of gamma ray energy, lasting from less than a second to a few minutes, that comes from outside our galaxy. Despite being from that far away, they are measurable on our planet, meaning the energy release in one second of a gamma ray burst is greater than the energy that our Sun will release in its entire ten billion year life cycle. GRB's are now thought to be from the collapse of a massive star, but the question has not been completely settled. If a gamma ray burst from within our galaxy were to hit our Earth, all life on our planet, even bacteria, would end within a few days.
Can you think of any objects or processes outside the solar system that might affect the earth?
A gamma ray burst would certainly affect earth, depending on how far away it is. It could come from outside the solar system.
Would Earth be affected when VY Canis Majoris explodes as a supernova?
Given the fact we are 5000 light years away from VY Canis Majoris, I doubt it would do much damage to Earth. However, Earth could be hit by a large gamma ray burst, but that is unlikely. Also, when the star does explode we will be able to see it from Earth, and it will outshine the galaxy for weeks and months.
You receive your light from the sun 93 million miles away A burst of light from the sun would reach your earth?
in 8 minutes.3.2 *(10^8)m/s
