2006-10-28 16:13:54 · 13 answers · asked by Alex S 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yep, But the days have gotten longer, when the earth was formed the moon was so close that the day's where only 4 hours long!
2006-10-28 16:21:21 · answer #1 · answered by matt v 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is no evidence that the rotation of the earth has changed direction, but as has been mentioned, there is evidence that the magnetic field has flipped with some regularity. If you think about it, the earth couldn't reverse its rotation suddenly without being torn apart. Can you imagine the devastation caused by a slowing down then reversal? What if the same side faced the sun for days or weeks at a time? How would the side in the shade fare during that time? Once stopped, what would set it spinning again? It would be like frying an egg on a campfire in freezing weather. Frozen yolk and burned white.
2006-10-28 16:37:06 · answer #2 · answered by Duane R-H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Those that think otherwise have completely forgotten or ignored Newton's laws of motion. It would require an absurdly huge amount of energy to cause the Earth to reverse rotation.
The rotational energy of the Earth is on the order of 2.56E29J. That's equivalent to the total energy output of the Sun accumulated over 11700 yrs. And you need double that to rotate at the same angular velocity in the opposite direction.
2006-10-28 17:10:47 · answer #3 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that "conservation of rotational momentum" requires that the earth not change its rotational direction unless a very large force (torque) in the opposite direction is applied. I have not heard that astronomers believe that such an event occurred, so I conclude that the earth has spun counterclockwise (as viewed from above the north pole) for as long as the earth has been a planet.
2006-10-28 16:28:24 · answer #4 · answered by actuator 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the Earth has always rotated counterclockwise.
2006-10-28 16:23:32 · answer #5 · answered by bldudas 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If the earth's rotation were to reverse, the sun would come up in the west and set in the east.
2006-10-28 16:17:57 · answer #6 · answered by Jeff and Kristi 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, when the moon was formed it changed the direction of its rotation!
2006-10-28 18:28:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, from west to east. If the rotation will change, their will be a disaster (time management disaster)
2006-10-28 21:16:50 · answer #8 · answered by jayveelim1323 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the earth has but but the magnetic field hasn't soon the compass will point south the magnetic field will reverse causing the compass to point south this has happened before check it out.
2006-10-28 16:27:07 · answer #9 · answered by mike 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think that's a great question and it amazes me that the previous answers are quick to say YES, but without anything to back it up. I say, who knows, what was the original state of the planet as it was forming, and what initiated the spin in the first place?
2006-10-28 16:24:00 · answer #10 · answered by Heckel 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋