2006-12-02 19:47:00 · 17 answers · asked by civ16 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It rotataes on it's axis. Rest is left on GOD.
2006-12-02 19:53:24 · answer #1 · answered by Raven 6 · 1⤊ 6⤋
The Earth has been spinning since the solar system was created. Apparently another planetary body collided with the Earth, giving it the 23.5 degrees axis it rotates on and the debris that was left was caught in its' gravity, creating the moon. Seen Space has no gravity, there is nothing to stop the Earth of orbiting the Sun. Unless it meets a force stronger than this and then it would change.
2006-12-05 02:38:23 · answer #2 · answered by Bastet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most likely cause is gravity. As materials begin to
collect due to gravity, the uneven distribution of mass causes the object to
rotate. Let us take a look at our solar system. The nebula that our solar
system formed out of would not have an even distribution of mater. As it
collapsed due to gravity, it began to rotate and clump together. As the
clumps gathered more dust and gas they would have had the same spin as all
the other clumps. As a result of this spin each object had something called
angular momentum. Momentum is the product of a body's velocity and its
mass. Angular momentum is the product of a body's rotation and the
distribution of its mass. The best example of angular momentum is with a
figure skater. When a skater is spinning, they have angular momentum. If
they change the position of their arms the distribution of their mass
changes and so does their rate of spin. Angular momentum must be conserved.
When the distribution of mass changes the rate of spin must also change to
conserve angular momentum.
Mass is not distributed evenly in a planet. The heavier elements tended
early on to settle in the core and the lighter material towards the surface.
This probably explains why the smaller planets tend to rotate slower than
the larger planets. This does not explain some of the exceptions to the
trend however. Why do Venus and Uranus rotate backward? These are puzzles
that we have not yet fully answered. We have some ideas; the most common one
being that Venus and Uranus experienced a collision early in their
formations altered their original motion.
There are probably other factors as well. This is just a basic answer.
2006-12-02 20:00:59 · answer #3 · answered by sonkysst 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Angular momentum left over from when the earth was formed - Newton's laws of motion- there is little external force (compared to the massive angular momentum of a rotating earth).
But...as a bit on an aside, the earth is slowing down...due to tidal friction. This is calculated at about 2seconds per 100,000 years. By looking at daily and annual growth bands in fossils of corals from the Devonian era (~400-360 million years ago) we can confirm this change and see cycles indicating that a year used to have about 400 days at this time, entirely in keeping with mathematical predictions.
2006-12-02 21:56:13 · answer #4 · answered by Rickolish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The original "power" that started the earth spinning came after the big bang when everything was coming together to form our solar system as it is today. Small particles of matter collided with each other to form larger particles; gaining more gravitational influence in the process. They expanded into planetesimals which continued to collide with each other with such force that they merged thus forming the planets. Obviously, depending on the speed, mass and angle of impact, this altered our planets orbital and axial speed of rotation. This is all in the past tense but as there is very little resistance in the near vacuum of space no further "power" is required to keep us spinning
2006-12-06 09:13:34 · answer #5 · answered by Mad Eng 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mass, space and time give planetary rotation but there is no force or power as such. Maybe gravity but that's not considered under relativity. Inertia is proportional to mass so trying to stop the earth rotating is gonna be difficult. The earth is held in its orbit by the Sun's gravity.
2006-12-02 20:01:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Running on magic for over 6,000 years!
No really it's always been doing that, it's so heavy who's to tell it to stop? It'll keep moving halfway to forever.
Thank goodness for the outer vacuum.. the main source of Earth's slowing down is actually the Moon trying to hold onto the ocean, which rubs against it's floorbed as the tides pass under it. Or something like that.
2006-12-02 20:04:35 · answer #7 · answered by anonymous 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well actually it can be explained on the quiz of having a pot filled wid water n is being heated.after some time steam will cause the lid on pot to jump n if there is no resistance of enviornment it will keep in motion to the direction of force but as there is resistance in the form of friction it will stop.same is the case wid earth.wen big bang took place earth gets a momentum and as there isnt any considerable friction so it keeps on moving right wid that momentum.in other words this movment is the result of that explosion wt we callit big bang.
2006-12-02 20:41:35 · answer #8 · answered by salman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my god there are a lot of wrong answers here....
The earth is spinning because soon after it's formation (about 4.6 billion years ago) a mars sized object collided with Earth. This tilted the Earth's axis and set it spinning much faster than it other wise would (look at Venus/Mercury for evidence of this). The debris spread into orbit around the Earth from this impact eventually pulled together to form our moon.
2006-12-02 22:57:10 · answer #9 · answered by brooks b 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's been spinning ever since it formed. No energy is consumed to keep it going- rather, it would take a near-inconceivable amount of energy to ever bring it to a stop.
When planets form the energy for the spin comes from gravity. As spinning things get smaller and denser, they spin faster. Exactly how it got started spinning is a question you'll have to ask a supercomputer.
2006-12-02 19:59:14 · answer #10 · answered by randomstupidhandle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the momentum that powers the rotation.
2006-12-02 19:55:16 · answer #11 · answered by flip4it 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋