Eli5: if Energy and mass are equal and transformable to one another, and if the sun is constantly projecting energy on the earth, why isn’t the earth getting heavier and constantly changing its orbit?

Question

Eli5: if Energy and mass are equal and transformable to one another, and if the sun is constantly projecting energy on the earth, why isn’t the earth getting heavier and constantly changing its orbit?

In: 16

Answer 1

Just because energy *can* be exchanged for matter (and vice versa) doesn’t mean it always is. Photons that strike the Earth are converted into thermal energy, and Earth radiates thermal energy too. We’re losing energy and mass faster than we’re gaining it.