Inefficient Sun

[lightningfan]

During a conversation with a friend, the point was raised that per square inch, the human body actually emits more heat than that of the surace of the sun and that it is merely the size of the sun in comparison that allows it to generate such a substatial output of heat. I havent got a clue where this was heard, but is there actually any truth in this? It sounds a tad crazy that a wee blob of ooze and bones can generate heat more efficiently than a massive ball of burning hydrogen, but then again what do I know?

Thanks

[Bobby]

That's nonsense. The surface of the sun is several thousand degrees celsius - that's why it glows brightly. We don't glow brightly.

[lesta_snow]

That's nonsense. The surface of the sun is several thousand degrees celsius - that's why it glows brightly. We don't glow brightly.

its more like millions of degrees sorry to correct you

[magic]

I've got a value here of 5500C for the surface (ref: Atlas of the Universe).

I'll pull some values out for you shortly...

[lightningfan]

Well I think its safe to say then that it was mindless pub talk. As i said it seemed somewhat crazy to me, and its reassuring to know that the sun is in fact more capable of heating this planet than a tipsy pub goer gives it credit for

[James M]

its more like millions of degrees sorry to correct you

In one of my books it says the surface is around 5500° C but the core is around 15,000,000°C

Ah was beaten to it!

[magic]

Here we go, some numbers for it (I've calculated the Human value so there is some margin of error but I think it's not important).

Energy emmision from surface of sun 63,000,000 W/m^2

Energy emmision from typical human body 530 W/m^2

[summer blizzard]

Here we go, some numbers for it (I've calculated the Human value so there is some margin of error but I think it's not important).

Energy emmision from surface of sun 63,000,000 W/m^2

Energy emmision from typical human body 530 W/m^2

They were talking about per square inch though, so you would have to proportionalise the sun to a human.

Bring on the resident math geek??????? (no offence)

Essentially, i have messed around with some figures, and if the sun is over 120,000 times the size of a human, then the human body is a more efficient heat source, and generates more power per square inch.

[magic]

:lol:

If you want to work in watts per square inch that's fine. I think I'll stick with the watts per square metre quoted though.

[Osbourne One-Nil]

Essentially, i have messed around with some figures, and if the sun is over 120,000 times the size of a human, then the human body is a more efficient heat source, and generates more power per square inch.

Are you saying the sun is 120,000 times the size of a human being? It's actually about 330,000 times the mass of the Earth.

Perhaps you've missed a few zeros somewhere?

[A.J]

Well I think its safe to say then that it was mindless pub talk. As i said it seemed somewhat crazy to me, and its reassuring to know that the sun is in fact more capable of heating this planet than a tipsy pub goer gives it credit for

Oh, I dont know, my ex-missus thought I was very hot...lol....guess I must of cooled down, or had a bad case of sun spots :lol:

[Bobby]

its more like millions of degrees sorry to correct you

Well the surface is suprisingly cool, a few thousand degrees. The outer layer, the corona, is over a million degrees though.

[crimsone]

suprisingly cool or not, I'll stick to walking on hot coals.

[lightningfan]

QUOTE (summer blizzard @ 6 Apr 2008, 11:12 PM)

Essentially, i have messed around with some figures, and if the sun is over 120,000 times the size of a human, then the human body is a more efficient heat source, and generates more power per square inch.

Are you saying the sun is 120,000 times the size of a human being? It's actually about 330,000 times the mass of the Earth.

Perhaps you've missed a few zeros somewhere?

Surely this depends on the human being in question?

[Azores Hi]

Are you saying the sun is 120,000 times the size of a human being? It's actually about 330,000 times the mass of the Earth.

Perhaps you've missed a few zeros somewhere?

It's comforting to know that if our sun burns out we could squish the population of Bolton together and create a new one.