What If the Earth Fell into the Sun? - A Physics Analysis

Explore a fascinating physics thought experiment in this 36-minute educational video that examines the consequences of Earth falling directly into the Sun. Learn how to calculate the surprisingly brief two-month journey using energy conservation principles and free-fall time equations. Discover the dramatic temperature evolution of Earth's surface as it approaches the Sun, incorporating factors like albedo and atmospheric greenhouse effects. Understand the concept of the Roche limit to determine at what point the Sun's tidal forces would tear apart our molten planet, approximately one million kilometers from the solar surface. Examine the changing appearance of the Sun in Earth's sky during this catastrophic descent, using angular size calculations to visualize its transformation from a familiar disk to an overwhelming celestial presence. Drawing from peer-reviewed physics research and academic papers, gain deep insights into gravitational physics, thermodynamics, and celestial mechanics through this detailed analysis of a hypothetical planetary disaster.