Journey of Photons from the Sun's Core to Surface

The video explains the journey of photons from the Sun's core to its surface, which takes thousands of years due to interactions with matter. Photons start as gamma rays and transform into visible light as they travel. The random walk problem is used to calculate this journey, considering the Sun's non-uniform density and photon energy changes. The estimated travel time is 170,000 years, plus eight minutes to reach Earth. Future discoveries may refine this understanding.

How long does it take for light to travel from the Sun's surface to Earth?

• Eight minutes

• One second

• One hour

• One day

What is the initial form of light produced in the Sun's core?

• X-rays

• Ultraviolet light

• Gamma rays

• Visible light

What is the random walk problem related to?

• The speed of light

• The distance a photon travels after each collision

• The energy of photons

• The density of the Sun

What was the initial calculated time for a photon to travel from the Sun's core to its surface?

• 8 minutes

• 170,000 years

• 4.6 billion years

• 400 billion years

Why was the initial calculation of photon travel time incorrect?

• The Sun's density is uniform

• Photons never collide with protons

• The Sun's density is not uniform

• Photons travel in a straight line

What affects a photon's likelihood to interact with a proton?

• The photon's color

• The photon's energy

• The photon's speed

• The photon's size

What is the density of the Sun's core compared to lead?

• Much denser

• Equally dense

• Less dense

• Not dense at all

What is the refined estimate for the time it takes a photon to travel from the Sun's core to its surface?

• 4.6 billion years

• 400 billion years

• 170,000 years

• 8 minutes

What tool is used to refine the calculation of photon travel time?

• A microscope

• A telescope

• A solar interior model

• A spectrometer

When did the photon that reaches us today begin its journey?

• During the Renaissance

• During the last ice age

• During the formation of the Earth

• During the Big Bang