2006-09-08 14:25:42 · 9 answers · asked by lonelyanswers 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It wouldn't be pretty.
First, whatever changes our orbit will cause some serious tidal stresses on our planet (the more massive, the more dramatic the shift, and the bigger the stress). There would be major earthquakes and tsunamis, and the afteraffects from these disasters.
Then, things might get from bad to worse. If the shift of orbit is inward toward the sun, temperatures will rise dramatically. Things might not get as hot as Venus, but it probably will be too hot to support humanity, as well as most life on earth.
If the shift is outward, we might be more fortunate. Although things might get a bit cooler, we have enough of an atmosphere and hydrosphere to retain enough heat to stay somewhat comfy (it can get as warm as 75 degrees F on Mars, at its equator.). This might actually help in the long run, since the Sun is continually growing hotter, and will overwhelm our Earths natural air conditioning in about a billion years!
The third scenario is that we'll be in an unstable and erratic orbit. If it's eccentric enough, the seasons would be quite drastic (A "big boil" in the summer, then a "big freeze" for winter). Also, we could either cross into the orbits of our planetary neighbors and collide, or even get kicked out of the solar system altogether (or into the sun).
2006-09-08 18:51:31 · answer #1 · answered by swilliamrex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of the earth as a spinning gyro ,what would change the earth's orbit that wouldn't already be a serious problem,but we have the moon as a meteor deflector and it would help.
2006-09-08 14:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The temperature of the earth would change dramatically. The length of our year may change...
who knows that else?
2006-09-08 14:36:03 · answer #3 · answered by boj12345 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would be surprised how sensitive we humans are to our environment. Dramatic change in the orbit would wipe us all out.
2006-09-08 14:39:23 · answer #4 · answered by The Prince 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We would drown in the Milky Way, hahaha.
2006-09-08 17:12:47 · answer #5 · answered by 4me2no&u2findout 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say that we would be sucked to another galaxie or to the sun becuse of gravity
2006-09-08 14:38:38 · answer #6 · answered by ssbbrulz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
end of the world ? but will it really happen ? wish to know too =)
2006-09-08 14:27:12 · answer #7 · answered by koojoo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry be happy.
2006-09-08 14:29:22 · answer #8 · answered by joe v 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we'd die, gravity would change, environment would change, it would be armagedeon
2006-09-08 14:32:38 · answer #9 · answered by sur2124 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋