Can the Earth spin backwards?

Answer 1

Many people should be shot for their incredible stupid answers.

Yes, actually, the earth can spin "backwards", in theory. But is is to be doubted if mankind will experience that.

Explanation:
The power of the tide (ebb and flow) twice each day actually slows down the rotation of the earth, each day by the fraction of cm per hour or so. Over millions of years this will add up to a complete stop.
If mankind then will survive that scenario (one side too hot and the other too cold) and the moon is still orbiting the earth, so to speak still causing ebb an flow, then, after a while (measured in millions of years) the earth will rotate the other way around.

But it can also be, that this will never ever happen, because the distance to the moon gets farther as the earth's rotation becomes slower and slower untill the moon will be gone or so far away, that there is no impact any more on the oceans and the tide has stopped to exist and thus the rotation will continue forever ...

Answer 2

In a word - no. in space there is no North, South, East or West. nor is there up or down. so basically there is no "backwards" in space unless there in a pre-defined "forwards". As there is no forwards that can be completely perfect, the Earth can spin any way imagineable and will not ever be spinning backwards.

If the Earth was to start spinning opposite to the way it is spinning now, it would have to first slow down, which would cause us all to die. It would take a very long time for it to get back to the speed at which it is spinning now, if it ever did.
Another downside to the Earth ceasing to spin is that everything attracted to it would stop orbiting and shoot straight at it.

If this is confusing(it confuses me too) then I'll try to give a answer that is easier to understand:
The Earth is not currently spinning forwards, it is just spinning.

Answer 3

evaluate the rotation of a gyroscope. It does not favor to by marvel end and opposite. it truly is unlikely to take position. notwithstanding you'll get the straightforward rotation to opposite by using flipping the poles, ie turning the gyroscope the incorrect way up. The Earth is composed of a liquid center and there is a few suggestion that its rotation motives the magnetic fields around the Earth. there is a few suggestion that the magnetic poles have reversed countless situations in the previous. The outer skinny layer of fantastic crust on earth ought to then slid around the molten inner center. Volcanoes, Earthquakes and massive extinctions ought to likely outcome. Cockroaches ought to likely live to inform the tale yet human beings received't. If the rotation replace ultimately reached the outdoors crust the solar ought to upward thrust in what changed into before the West, yet time would not bypass backwards and in view that the years are ruled by using the Earth's rotation around the solar not its rotation round its axis the form of the seasons and years would not replace.

Answer 4

As the earth is stuck in a potential gravational static status, the surrounding gravity determines the strength of the earth revolution and its speed. It is very unlikley for the earth to spin backwards, as gravity is usually constant.

Answer 5

Yes. Every once in a while the earth stops suddenly and then begins rotating in the opposite direction. When you see people suddenly fall down for no apparent reason or fall out of bed then you will know that the earth has stopped and has now started rotating in the opposite direction.

Answer 6

the earth spins by forces of nature. Men can change forces of nature to a certain extend...eg....a fan changes teh wind direction.

But to change the rotation of earth, no machine is big enought....God has made the universe....he put the earth on its axis.

Answer 7

Actually, its spinning backwards right now.

Answer 8

Spin anyway you want but at the moment the answer is no.

Answer 9

No..We might all fall out of the space and fly lightly to the universe. Its fearful.

Answer 10

not untill 2012 than it is supposed to stop and start turning the other way ,not long to wait now to find out if it is true.
and if it does it is doubtfull that many of us survive