We all know the terrible consequences of a comet colliding with Earth. But what would happen if Jupiter were to collide with the Sun?
Scientists have hypothesized that one of the factors leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs was a comet that “collided” with Earth. According to their calculations, this comet had a diameter of about 10 kilometers and was traveling at a speed 40 times faster than the speed of sound when it struck our planet. The impact created an explosion with a force equivalent to 100 trillion tons of TNT.
In the Solar System, Jupiter is the largest planet. (Photo: Pixabay)
Meanwhile, the Sun has a total volume of 1.4122 × 1018 km³, which means we could fit over 1 million Earths inside this star. The Sun accounts for 99.9% of the total mass of the Solar System. Jupiter, being the largest planet, has a volume of 1.43128 × 1015 km³, capable of containing 1,321 Earths while still having extra space.
Jupiter has a mass 2.5 times that of all the planets in the Solar System combined. Despite its enormous size, its mass is only 1/1047 that of the Sun. If a comet colliding with Earth can be catastrophic, what would happen if Jupiter were to collide directly with the Sun?
Despite its enormous size, Jupiter’s mass is only 1/1047 that of the Sun. (Photo: Pixabay)
Catastrophic Consequences
Many people compare the Sun to a gigantic fireball. The temperature on the surface of the Sun is incredibly high, around 5,700°C. It constantly radiates a massive amount of energy, emitting light and heat throughout the universe, including to our Earth. The amount of solar energy that our planet receives is only 1/2.2 billion of the Sun’s total radiated energy. To visualize the power of the Sun, if there were a 12-meter thick layer of ice covering its surface, after just one minute, the Sun’s heat would completely melt that ice.
Additionally, the Sun has a gravitational force. This immense gravitational force creates a boundary known as the Roche Limit. This boundary, along with the Sun’s massive energy, acts like a “wall” that protects it and tears apart anything that crosses it.
Jupiter can hold 1,321 Earths inside it, but what would happen if it collided with the Sun? (Photo: Pixabay)
Most stars that reach the Roche Limit will be destroyed in a short time. However, if the mass and size of the star can surpass this “wall” and penetrate the Sun’s atmosphere, the Sun’s gravitational pull will cause it to move at a speed of 600 km/s. It will then be subjected to the Sun’s ultraviolet and X-ray radiation, resulting in an explosion.
Jupiter is a gas giant without a protective atmosphere; therefore, as it approaches the Sun, it will gradually melt due to the intense heat. The heavier gases in Jupiter’s atmosphere will slowly mix into the Sun, causing increased activity on the Sun’s surface.
While the collision of Jupiter with the Sun may not cause significant damage to the Sun itself, it will impact other planets, including Earth. This explosion will release a large amount of UV rays and radiation. Furthermore, the temperature on Earth will rise sharply, causing ice at the poles to melt, leading to rising sea levels and submerging low-lying coastal areas around the world. The world will have to face extreme weather phenomena and many other terrifying disasters.
