Yes, i believe so.
Based on the law of conservation of momentum, this could happen even if one person ran in one direction (assuming there was noone else running in the opposite direction to cancel out the effect).
Momentum = Mass * Velocity of object
also, Force = rate of change of momentum
This means that if a person walks in one direction, hence they have a velocity in that direction, the Earth will gain the same amount of momentum in the opposite direction. However, as the mass of a person is so tiny compared to that of the Earth, the velocity of the Earth will be negligible.
If everyone in the whole world ran in the same direction, the mass of people with velocity in a certain direction would be much larger, so the force on the Earth, due to this large change in momentum would be much larger, so the effect on the world's rotation would be much larger too.
In actual fact, every time you jump in the air, the Earth moves. It's just that the movement is so tiny, due to the huge difference in mass between the earth and a person, the movement is extremely small.
2006-12-09 09:01:53
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answer #1
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answered by Stan B 1
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No
Footsteps have two components. Downward and then back (horizontal). The downward component would do nothing.
I just stomped my foot on the floor....did you feel it???
lol
Uhhhhh......No...and that's just a wave on the surface from me to you. Of course you won't feel it. Are you freaking kidding?!!
I have no desire to track down how many peopel there are on the planet and what their distribution would have to be to conduct such a 'thought experiment', but I have to assume they would cover a significant arc over the the earth's surface. As such you would then have a third component that robs you of the critical component in the necessary direction necessary to directly oppose the direction of rotation of the earth.
Is the effect nonzero? Certainly....will it make a difference.....no freakin' way.....lol.
Don't forget the earth is composed of a very THIN crust atop a semi-liquid/liquid interior surrounding a metallic core.
It would take a great amount of energy to influence all this moving mass --- inertia, especially the fluid.
Can you stop an ocean wave by jumping on an air mattress?
:)
Interesting question tho. :)
2006-12-09 09:07:18
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Probably yes but to move the earth at a certain speed or acceleration, you would need to produce a particular force ( Newtons second law F = ma
Since the mass of the earth is huge, even if we got every single person who could run, to sprint as fast as they could in one direction, the forces generated would be predominatly "used up" by the mass of the earth. I.e. We would end up spinning the earth at a very small acceleration, probably too small for us to notice.
It's a good idea, although it is along the same lines of "everyone jumping onto the ground at the same time will cause the earth to vibrate/shake apart/earthquake" blah blah blah . . .
2006-12-09 08:53:55
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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In theory you are correct ... in theory anytime anyone walks in any direction the earth is going to have a force applied to it ... it is the transmission of that force to the whole Earth and the measuring of it that is the problem.
The answer is no because measuring that force or seeing any change in the Earths angular momentum would be impossible to perceive.
Figure out how much angular force you could hope to get by everyone running in one direction. If you could apply that force mechanically for an extremely long period of time, like construct a railroad on the equator and have a train with the an equivalent mass of population of earth accellerating constantly around it then you could probably eventually measure a change.
2006-12-09 08:37:16
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answer #4
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answered by themountainviewguy 4
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I would have to say yes, but it is not the running that would cause a reactionary force, but the acceleration. If everyone started from a standstill and accelerated to running speed at exactly the same time, in exactly the same direction relative to the rotation of the earth, the earth's equal and opposite force would be required and would theoretically see a massive force applied. This in turn must be met with a reactionary acceleration.
No?
m
2006-12-09 08:30:03
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answer #5
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answered by Mukluk 2
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No. it extremely is Newton's third regulation of action, and applies entirely to classical mechanics. there is no logical connection in any way between that the conception of the destiny being predictable. the way you need to be arguing is that this - physics exhibits us that we can describe what occurs interior the universe totally in words of mathematics. each and every calculation provides sure effects, they continually paintings, and so it truly is low-priced to lift those equations to the prestige of unbreakable regulations - we do not have any reason to imagine that they don't look to be. subsequently if we knew each and each and every of the variables, shall we optimistically calculate the destiny. the position this falls down is that chaos theory is giving us thoughts that this isn't the case, and quantum physics exhibits that on a small scale, the universe isn't predictable - the equations are in words of threat, no longer exactness.
2016-11-25 01:21:08
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answer #6
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answered by ? 4
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No. Remember that we are standing on rock floating on magma. Besides, many things depend on the Earth spinning at a constant speed. Speeding or slowing the rotation could have catastrophic effects...sounds like a cool movie, though.
2006-12-09 08:32:04
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Absolutely we could, assuming we could all agree to run in the same direction.
Obviously, the change would be extremely small and one problem would exist. The same acceleration that you used to speed up yourself and thus influence the planet speed would be returned as you deaccelerated when we all got tired and stopped. So the effect wouldn't last very long.
2006-12-09 08:32:32
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answer #8
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answered by bkc99xx 6
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Every answer before mine was stupid and thoughtless. Since the world rotates from east to west, if we all ran WEST at the same time, then there would be an immeasureable INcrease in the earth's rotation. IF we all ran EAST, then there would be an immeasureable DEcrease. Think about it.
2006-12-09 08:32:29
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answer #9
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answered by naked_in_lake 2
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not in the slightest. The currents in the oceans would be against the running force, the wind blowing against the mountains would be against the running force, the animals running in all directions would be against the running force. We as the world population are small compared to the oceans, mountains, storms, and animals that would cancel any lame attempt to all run at the same time.
2006-12-09 08:26:59
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answer #10
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answered by Marky Mark 1
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