Effects on Earth:
* Increased Temperatures: The most immediate effect would be a dramatic increase in Earth's temperature. The closer the Sun, the more intense the solar radiation, leading to scorching heat across the planet. Oceans would boil, glaciers would melt, and the planet would become a barren wasteland.
* Extreme Weather Events: The increase in solar radiation would create extreme weather patterns. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and other violent storms would become more frequent and intense.
* Loss of Atmosphere: The heat would cause Earth's atmosphere to expand and eventually be stripped away by the solar wind. Without an atmosphere, there would be no protection from harmful radiation, and water would boil away.
* Melting of Ice Caps and Glaciers: The immense heat would cause all ice caps and glaciers to melt, contributing to rising sea levels and flooding.
Effects on Plants:
* Rapid Dehydration: Plants rely on water to survive. The intense heat would cause them to rapidly dehydrate and die.
* Sunburn and Damage: The increased solar radiation would cause significant damage to plant tissues, leading to sunburn and wilting.
* Photosynthesis Disruption: Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, but excessive sunlight can overwhelm the process, leading to death.
* Extinction: With the extreme changes in climate and the loss of vital resources, most plant species would become extinct.
Timeline:
The exact timeline would depend on how much closer the Sun moved, but it would likely be a matter of days or weeks before the Earth became uninhabitable.
Conclusion:
The closer the Sun came to Earth, the more devastating the consequences would be. The increased heat, extreme weather events, and loss of atmosphere would make the planet uninhabitable for all forms of life, including plants.
It's important to note that this is a hypothetical scenario. While the Sun does have a natural cycle of expansion over billions of years, it is not expected to move closer to Earth in a way that would cause such a dramatic impact in our lifetime.
