Vsauce - How To Destroy The Sun
The video discusses the theoretical concept of destroying the sun by adding mass or dispersing its matter. Adding water to the sun would increase its mass, enhancing gravitational pressure and nuclear fusion, causing it to burn brighter and faster. This would reduce its lifespan from billions to hundreds of millions of years. Alternatively, dispersing the sun's matter across space could temporarily stop fusion, but the sun could reconstitute itself over time due to gravity. To prevent this, the sun's matter must be spread beyond the Gene's length, a critical radius where thermal energy cannot counteract gravitational collapse. The Gene's length for the sun is at least 10,000 astronomical units, which is significantly larger than our solar system.
Key Points:
- Adding mass to the sun increases its fusion rate, shortening its lifespan.
- Dispersing the sun's matter can temporarily stop fusion but isn't permanent.
- The sun can reconstitute itself unless its matter is spread beyond the Gene's length.
- The Gene's length is a critical radius where gravity overcomes thermal expansion.
- The sun's Gene's length is at least 10,000 astronomical units, much larger than the solar system.
Details:
1. 🌞 Why the Sun Can't Be 'Put Out' Like a Fire
1.1. The Role of Atomic Fusion in the Sun's Energy Production
1.2. Impact of Adding Mass to the Sun
2. 💦 The Impact of Adding Water to the Sun
2.1. Reducing the Sun's Lifetime
2.2. Halting Fusion Temporarily
3. 🌌 Theoretical Ways to Disperse the Sun Permanently
- For the Sun to be permanently dispersed, its matter must be spread beyond the Gene's length, which is the critical distance where thermal energy fails to counteract gravitational forces.
- The Gene’s length for the Sun is calculated to be at least 10,000 astronomical units, equivalent to 250 times the width of our solar system.
- If the Sun's matter remains within this radius, it could potentially re-coalesce due to gravitational forces, presenting a significant challenge in permanently dispersing it.