This was only a movie, but is it possible?

Question

Plot Summary for Crack in the World (1965)
Dr. Steven Sorenson (Andrews) plans to tap the geothermal energy of the Earth's interior by means of a thermonuclear device detonated deep within the Earth. Despite dire warnings by fellow scientist Ted Rampian (Moore), Dr Sorenson proceeds with the experiment after secretly learning that he is terminally ill. This experiment causes a crack to form and grow within the earth's crust, which threatens to split the earth in two if it is not stopped in time.

Answer 1

I wouldn't think that a nuclear explosion would have much of an effect in the core of the other. Remember that explosions occur because of a difference of energy and pressure created at the moment of the explosion. You have to realize just how much energy there actually is down there (so we think). If you were to detonate a bomb in the core of the earth, it would probably not create anymore pressure than already exists there and surely the energy would not be affected. Aside from all that, the device would never make it to the core to begin with. The core IS a thermonuclear device to begin with, so it might only add a relatively small amount of energy to the core.

I doubt it's possible.

With even all that aside,

The gravity of earth is very strong. Think of how much force there would be pulling the two section of earth together. So strong in fact that the crack would probably never occur. I believe this is the reason the Earth is round to begin with.

Answer 2

Not possible. The movie apparently assumes the earth's crust is one solid (and for the purposes of the film, brittle) chunk. The earth's crust is fairly elastic and broken up into tectonic plates. The crust averages about 25 miles in thickness which, considering the volume of the planet, is like the peel on an apple. Even a large thermonuclear device is like a pin prick on that scale.

Answer 3

I saw that movie years ago and no, it is not possible. At the end of the movie a big chuck of the Earth splits off to make another Moon. In real life, even if the entire Earth were smashed into rubble, gravity would keep the rubble in a ball the same size and shape as Earth is now.

Answer 4

even if the crust of the earth is split into two, the earth will not split. the crust is only a thin outer shell, the earth could still stay together without it. inside the crust, there is molten iron, and it could not be split without some extremely large(i mean something like another planet colliding) to do the splitting

Answer 5

This is not possible. The gravitational forces are too great to allow the Earth to split in such a fashion if I understand the premise of the question. I believe that an explosion great enough to cause that kind of damage might blow the Earth apart instead of in twain.

Answer 6

Is it possible. Yes. (at least an earthquake, not split the earth like a melon)

If a seismic event is pending an atomic explosion just might trigger it. After all, atomic explosions are read around the world by seismometers.

What more info. Just check my profile by clicking on "SPLATT" on the left. Stop PLATe Tectonics!!!!!

Answer 7

I remeber that movie. Great movie but one little nuke is not going to crack the earth, molten lava fault lines notwithstanding. And to drill a hole that deep is a ridiculous proposition. Look how much trouble thay had in the movie "Armageddon", and that was only 800 feet. Not that "Armageddeon" wasn't a joke, believeability-wise.

Answer 8

I wouldn't lose sleep over it. The amount of force required to displace the mantle or a section of the crust would be millions of times the force of any nuclear blast we could contrive to create.

Answer 9

the earth would continue to be held together by the pseudo force we call gravity.

Answer 10

I think not. It would require a much larger device than we now possess.