We have 4.5 Lbs of Sunlight hit the earth Every Second

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Posted: 1/31/2011 3:55:07 PM EDT

I was watching a program about Einstein and they said
We have 4.5 Lbs of Sunlight hit the earth Every Second.

Interesting

Posted: 1/31/2011 3:55:50 PM EDT

[#1]

And just how is this measured?

Posted: 1/31/2011 3:56:11 PM EDT

[#2]

4.5 pounds? Sounds like Einstein smoked pot.

Posted: 1/31/2011 3:57:05 PM EDT

[#3]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7819201/Nasa-warns-solar-flares-from-huge-space-storm-will-cause-devastation.html

Good luck everyone.

Posted: 1/31/2011 3:58:33 PM EDT

[#4]

Photons have momentum, but not mass, right?

So 4.5lbs of force are applied by the sunlight, not 4.5lbs of sunlight.

Posted: 1/31/2011 3:58:46 PM EDT

[#5]

Let's do some math, eh?

4.5 pounds per second equals...

270 pounds/minute

16,200 pounds/hour

388,800 pounds/day

141,912,000 pounds/year

I'm having a hard time believing that.

ETA - tolip's explanation at least sounds plausible.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:00:55 PM EDT

[#6]

Convert energy to mass using E=M*C^2

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:01:56 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Convert energy to mass using E=M*C^2

LOL WUT?

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:02:42 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
And just how is this measured?

It is not measured. It is calculated.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:04:03 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Convert energy to mass using E=M*C^2

LOL WUT?

Borrowed from NASA (http://helios.gsfc.nasa.gov/qa_sun.html )

The energy per time put out by the Sun is its luminosity, 3.8 x 10²⁶
Joules per second (or Watts). Using Einstein's renowned formula that
describes how much mass is transformed into energy, when energy is being
produced, E = M * c² (or: Energy = Mass * (Speed of Light)²), as 1 Joule = 1 kg m²/s² and c = 300,000,000 m/s, the mass the Sun burns into energy every second is:

Mass/Time = 3.8 x 10²⁶/(3 x 10⁸)² kg/s = 4.4 x 10⁹ kg/s or roughly 4 million tons per second.

At its distance of 1 Astronomical Unit (150 million km), the Earth is hit by the Sun's energy flux F = 1400 Joules/s/m².
We call this quantity the "solar constant", as this value averaged over
each year is constant within better than 1% over time. With an Earth
radius of approx 6400 km, the area, which is (pi * Earth's radius)², with which the Earth intercepts sunlight is (pi * Earth's radius)² = 1.3 x 10¹⁴ m² making the amount of energy captured by the Earth each second:

F * (pi * Earth's radius)² = 1.8 x 10¹⁷ Joules/s

According to the same procedure as above this makes the mass to produce this amount of energy per second:

Mass captured as sunlight per second = 1.8 x 10¹⁷ / (3 x 10⁸)² kg/s = 2 kg/s

This is about 4.5 lbs/s or close to 5 lbs/s.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:04:06 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Photons have momentum, but not mass, right?

So 4.5lbs of force are applied by the sunlight, not 4.5lbs of sunlight.

Correct.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:04:23 PM EDT

[#11]

where is KeithJ when ya need him.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:04:33 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Convert energy to mass using E=M*C^2

LOL WUT?

M=E/(C^2)

E = energy of the sun as measured across the whole earth's surface
C = speed of light

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:04:33 PM EDT

[#13]

Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:07:53 PM EDT

[#14]

Yes, this is true.

and we have theorized about using the effect for propulsion.

Solar Sail

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:09:14 PM EDT

[#15]

Its an equivalency, i.e., 4.5 lbs of mass are required to produce the amount of energy that strikes the earth each second, assuming 100% efficiency of conversion and using E=M*C^2 as the converting formula.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:09:28 PM EDT

[#16]

Just like global warming this is made up science as is all science. There is no such thing as the sun!

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:12:56 PM EDT

[#17]

I bet that the average person has heard of E=MC squared, but has no idea what that means.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:17:17 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Photons have momentum, but not mass, right?

So 4.5lbs of force are applied by the sunlight, not 4.5lbs of sunlight.

Quoted:
Convert energy to mass using E=M*C^2

I like this stuff.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:17:48 PM EDT

[#19]

How about the solar wind? Now that has mass...alpha and beta particles.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:23:13 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Photons have momentum, but not mass, right?

So 4.5lbs of force are applied by the sunlight, not 4.5lbs of sunlight.

Quoted:
Convert energy to mass using E=M*C^2

I like this stuff.

Me too

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:35:12 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Its an equivalency, i.e., 4.5 lbs of mass are required to produce the amount of energy that strikes the earth each second, assuming 100% efficiency of conversion and using E=M*C^2 as the converting formula.

So this doesn't reflect an addition to the earth's mass, but instead a reduction of the sun's mass that is used to produce energy in the form of light, correct ?

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:36:58 PM EDT

[#22]

Silly metric system. Force is not mass.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:40:07 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

A radiometer

I Would then to think it is more of a Force than actual Mass of 4.5 lbs

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:40:56 PM EDT

[#24]

Its not photons, its the solar wind. Mostly protons and electrons.

At least that would be my guess as to what they were talking about.

ETA::Damn it, Keith J beat me.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:42:02 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Its an equivalency, i.e., 4.5 lbs of mass are required to produce the amount of energy that strikes the earth each second, assuming 100% efficiency of conversion and using E=M*C^2 as the converting formula.

So this doesn't reflect an addition to the earth's mass, but instead a reduction of the sun's mass that is used to produce energy in the form of light, correct ?

Plants absorb photons and use them to create sugars.

So, mass released by transforming atomic nuclei becomes light, then is stored again as chemical bonds in plants.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:44:24 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
I was watching a program about Einstein and they said
We have 4.5 Lbs of Sunlight hit the earth Every Second.

Interesting

Global warming, global cooling, now global pushing. What next?

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:45:04 PM EDT

[#27]

I would like to know what the 4.5lbs references.

Force from light, mass in the form of bonds and solar wind are different phenomena, but all affect our planet.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:45:44 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

A radiometer

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Crookes_radiometer.jpg/220px-Crookes_radiometer.jpg

I Would then to think it is more of a Force than actual Mass of 4.5 lbs

Lbs are not mass...slugs are

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:48:03 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

A radiometer

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Crookes_radiometer.jpg/220px-Crookes_radiometer.jpg

I Would then to think it is more of a Force than actual Mass of 4.5 lbs

Lbs are not mass...slugs are

Where is a theoretical physicist when you need one

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:54:14 PM EDT

[#30]

Thats why we put on weight as we get older...................the mass of the ass is proportional the speed of light X samiches

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:54:38 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

Radiometer

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:59:14 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:

I would like to know what the 4.5lbs references.

Force from light, mass in the form of bonds and solar wind are different phenomena, but all affect our planet.

If you were to wholly convert 4.5 lbs of mass, wood, lead, plutonium, etc., completely into energy, it would be the same amount of energy (light, heat) that interacts with the earth in any given second. It's similar to what happens during a nuclear explosion, some of the mass is converted into energy, hence the heat and light. The sun does the same thing, albeit more efficiently.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:06:58 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I was watching a program about Einstein and they said
We have 4.5 Lbs of Sunlight hit the earth Every Second.

Interesting

Global warming, global cooling, now global pushing. What next?

global pulling?

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:07:35 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

A radiometer

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Crookes_radiometer.jpg/220px-Crookes_radiometer.jpg

I Would then to think it is more of a Force than actual Mass of 4.5 lbs

Lbs are not mass...slugs are

Id rather use kilgrams and newtons.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:38:46 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:

Id rather use kilgrams and newtons.

No joke. The more complex the units, the more SI units shine. I think my head exploded when I first read about CGS units. CGS unit of force: dyn. CGS unit of energy: erg.

I got an urge to die.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:44:13 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:
And just how is this measured?

E=MC^2

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:47:16 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:

I was watching a program about Einstein and they said

We have 4.5 Lbs of Sunlight hit the earth Every Second.

Interesting

Global warming, global cooling, now global pushing. What next?

global pulling?

What you did there, ................

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:51:28 PM EDT

[#38]

how much thrust per squeeze is that?

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:53:45 PM EDT

[#39]

This is absolute BS....

It's dark half of the day. Like the sun is landing on the earth then. Sheesh.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:55:47 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:

Quoted:
And just how is this measured?

E=MC^2

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen so many incorrect formulas before in one thread. The formula does not include the SI unit Mega- nor does it include a temperature in Celsius.z

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:56:22 PM EDT

[#41]

Photons aren't the only particles given off in a fusion reaction.

I imagine that there are a fair amount of gases that are expelled as well.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:59:09 PM EDT

[#42]

Since I'm up to my ass in snow, and I just pushed it for another hour, send it ALL to my yard.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:59:52 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

A radiometer

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Crookes_radiometer.jpg/220px-Crookes_radiometer.jpg

I Would then to think it is more of a Force than actual Mass of 4.5 lbs

Correct - but it's not a vacuum inside and it's not the photons from the light making it spin; if it was a vaccum, it wouldn't spin.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:07:44 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Crookes_radiometer.jpg/210px-Crookes_radiometer.jpg

Radiometer

There's a little bit of FAIL going on here.

A Crookes radiometer only works in a PARTIAL vacuum. One built with a HARD vacuum in it won't spin.

It is not photonic pseudomass that causes the radiometer to spin, it is convective currents generated by

heating and cooling within the thin but present atmosphere in an operational Crookes radiometer.
CJ

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:07:48 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
4.5 pounds? Sounds like Einstein smoked pot.

Posted: 2/1/2011 4:24:19 AM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Light can definitely exert force. My old science teacher had this glass ball about 12" in diameter with something that resembled a pinwheel inside. He could shine a light on the pinwheel and it would spin.

It was a vacuum, and I'm sure very light weight and efficient, but light could definitely make it spin.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Crookes_radiometer.jpg/210px-Crookes_radiometer.jpg

Radiometer

There's a little bit of FAIL going on here.

A Crookes radiometer only works in a PARTIAL vacuum. One built with a HARD vacuum in it won't spin.

It is not photonic pseudomass that causes the radiometer to spin, it is convective currents generated by
heating and cooling within the thin but present atmosphere in an operational Crookes radiometer.

CJ

Good God, I wasn't commenting on the physics of the thing, I was just linking what the guy saw. I even linked to a page with proper information on it.