In Chapter 23, we learned that an accelerating electric charge produces electromagnetic waves. In the same way, the general theory of relativity predicts that an accelerated mass produces gravitational waves. As the Earth moves in orbit around the Sun, it undergoes accelerated motion (i.e., uniform circular motion), and it has been predicted that the power carried away by the resulting gravitational radiation is about 0.001 W. How long will it take for the Earth’s orbit to be just barely outside the surface of the Sun?