Question #c668f

1 Answer
Apr 24, 2017

Final calculations are left for the reader.

Explanation:

In the instant case I could not find applicability of [Kepler's In the instant case I could not find applicability of Kepler's Laws of motion. As such expressions applicable to satellites have been used and Law of Conservation of energy is used.

Let a body of mass m with initial velocity =0 situated at a distance R=1.496×1011m, from the sun. It falls towards the sun, under the influence of gravitational attraction of the sun. Effect of gravitational attraction due to all planets is ignored.

Gravitational PE of this body=GMmR
where M=1.989×1030kg is the mass of the sun and Rs=6.957×108m is radius of sun.
Total initial energy =KE+PE=GMmR ......(1)

Let the body be at a distance x from the sun's center and have a velocity v
Total energy =12mv2+(GMmx) .....(2)
Using law of conservation of energy we get
12mv2+(GMmx)=GMmR
Rearranging we get
12mv2=(GMmx)GMmR
v=±2GMR[Rxx]
v=±1k[Rxx]12 .....(3)
where 1k=2GMR

If the body takes time dt to cover an infinitesimal distance dx we have
dt=dxv
Using (3) we get
dt=±k[xRx]12dx
Time taken to reach the sun's surface is time integral of LHS from t=0 to t=t
Which is t0dt=t
and total distance traveled by the body is distance integral of RHS from x=R to x=Rs
we have
t=±RsRk[xRx]12dx
Using online integral calculator we get

t=±k[Rtan1(xRx)+xRx(xR)]RsR
t=±k[Rtan1(RsRRs)+RsRRs(RsR)(Rtan1(RRR)+RRR(RR))]
t=±k[Rtan1RsRRs+Rs(RRs)Rtan1]
t=±k[Rtan1RsRRs+Rs(RRs)Rπ2]
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Choose the appropriate root as time can't be negative.
Insert value of k in the final expression to obtain value of t

Velocity as the body reaches surface of the sun, i.e., at x=Rs
=2GMR[Rxx]
2GMR[RRsRs]
Inserting values we get

 2(6.67408×1011)1.989×10301.496×1011[(1.496×1011)(6.957×108)6.957×108]
(1.775×108)×(214)
1.949×105ms1

Even though we know that velocity increases steeply, lets find rough average velocity=initial velocity+final velocity2=0+1.949×1052=97450m1
Hence time taken t=RRs9745017.7 earth days.
Actual time would be much less.

Most of the bodies would have evaporated much earlier due to temperature at sun's surface estimated as 5,778 K.
Compare this temperature with highest bp - Tungsten 5,555 °C
and bp - Uranium 4,131 °C