2006-12-15 01:19:14 · 7 answers · asked by Luiz B 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The Earth spins at a speed of about 1000 mph (circumference of around 24,000 miles/24 hour day). If it stopped suddenly, like on a dime, we'd all be flung forward at that speed, straight East. 1000 mph isn't anywhere near escape velocity, so no one would be flying off of the planet, but flying around at that speed is certainly enough to kill you. The landing definitely.
There would still be gravity. Gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the Earth, not the speed of its rotation. I still wonder how such a dumb idea got started.
2006-12-15 01:42:56 · answer #1 · answered by The Ry-Guy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever been spun really fast on a merry-go-round and had one of your friends stop it all of the sudden? You were fine as it was spinning, but the sudden stop in rotation would make you fly right off.
In the same way, if the earth stopped rotating all of the sudden, we would all be chucked right off the face of the earth (although it's quite probable that gravity would bring us right back down) and all the water in the ocean would flood the land masses.
Isn't physics cool? =P
(P.S. gravity is a force we haven't quite figured everything about, but it is a natural attraction between two masses and has nothing to do with rotation...Just in case you're reading the answer below mine.)
2006-12-15 09:26:28 · answer #2 · answered by TimC 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our weight on the surface of earth is actually less than what it should be if the earth is not rotating.
Due to earth’s rotation, the weight is less; we are pulled with less force to ward the earth.
If earth stops rotation, we will be pulled toward the earth with somewhat greater force.
We will not be thrown away from earth.
To be thrown away, against gravity one must have a minimum speed of 11.2km/s.
2006-12-15 10:20:20 · answer #3 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be interesting, no doub a bout it. All of the Earth's surface would rip itself away, and blast out into space. But gravity has NOTHING to do with Earth's rotation, so after a while everything would simply float back on Earth - in a total chaos, of course.
2006-12-15 09:42:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You'd smear for a long ways along with almost everything else. The earth's spin is fast! I don't know the exact speed but it is hundreds of miles per hour.
2006-12-15 09:26:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it would be more appropriate to say we fly away. With no rotation, there is no gravity.
2006-12-15 09:26:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
mountains would move! Oceans would empty into the atmosphere! and you wouldn't know it.
2006-12-15 09:29:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋