Light takes about 8 minutes to travel from the sun to get to the earth (for one to see it).
The theory of relativity states that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. If the sun suddenly disappeared would it take 8 minutes for the earth to notice that the sun was no longer there and continue on in a straight line instead of the current orbit? No, it happens instantaneously. So how does that information get from one object to another faster than the speed of light, thereby disproving E=MC2? This is one of the basic questions trying to be answered by quantum theory, string theory and the TOE. Fascinating stuff.
Not sure I grasp it all but the time it takes light to travel between the sun and surface earth is that distance : the speed of light = a little over 8 minutes on average. Min and max distance between sun/earth vary a bit cos of earth's orbit around the sun being ecliptic.
Um, must say I just restarted getting interested in physics again and must admit I do not know much about quatum physics and string theory.. and 'TOE trying to combine the theories' with the theory of relativity.
Bet a theory, a group of 'scientists' claiming it to be the theory of everything, is doomed to fail. Scientists that excludes doubt completely.. well, dunno.... I'm not a scientist. I'm foremost/upmost a sceptic and really don't believe mankind one day will fully understand everything.
I really do.
Think also, not talking about our sun and taking a more distant star as an example here; if it were to suddenly disappear.. implode/gone.. we on earth will only notice its missing when the light provided by it stopped many many many years ago, depending on its distance from us.
Well, our sun suddenly disappearing probably will have quite a faster 'reaction' being 'noticed' here on earth than the little over 8 minutes sunlight takes to get here, I'm reckoning. Guess there might be a factor of influence faster than the speed of light taking place then.
Not sure at all.. but instantanously? Mmmm.
Above is me brain-storming mostly and still wondering; What do we really know for certain?