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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.

Compare the travel time of light from the Sun to you versus the travel time of the light from the core of the Sun to its surface.

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About TED-Ed Animations

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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