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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.
What else can I help you with?
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?
Yes, objects like asteroids or comets from interstellar space can potentially collide with Earth and cause significant impact. Additionally, cosmic events such as supernovae explosions or gamma-ray bursts from distant sources could also affect Earth's atmosphere or climate.
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.
Can 200 billion pennies reach from the earth to the moon?
No, 200 billion pennies laid out in a single line would not reach from the earth to the moon. However, stacked on top of each other, they would far exceed the distance between the earth and the moon.
How long will it take for the earth to reach halfway to sun in its orbit?
It would take the Earth around 93 million miles to reach halfway to the Sun in its orbit. Earth's average distance from the Sun is about 93 million miles, so halfway would be approximately half of that distance.
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?
If a gamma ray burst hit Earth, it could potentially strip away the ozone layer, leading to an increase in harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This could have catastrophic effects on the environment and life on Earth. However, the likelihood of a gamma ray burst hitting Earth directly is very low.
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.
Why would gamma rays and light waves reach the earth at the same time?
Gamma rays and light waves can reach Earth at the same time if they are emitted simultaneously from the same event, such as a supernova explosion. Since both travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, they can arrive on Earth together, despite having different properties and wavelengths.
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.
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.
How fast would a burst of light reach the earth?
Light travels through space at 299,792,458 meters per second ... cleverly labeled the "speed of light" ... regardless of where it originates or what direction it takes.
