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Sunlight is way older than you think - Sten Odenwald

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TEDEd Animation

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It takes light a zippy 8 minutes to reach Earth from the surface of the Sun. But how long does it take that same light to travel from the Sun’s core to its surface? Oddly enough, the answer is many thousands of years. Sten Odenwald explains why by illustrating the random walk problem.

When a computer model that takes into consideration the changing solar interior is used to calculate a photon's random walk, what is the re-calculated length of time a photon stays in the sun?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Sten Odenwald
  • Director Eduardo Sandoval
  • Sound Designer Christopher Bullé-Goyri
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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