2006-12-30 14:17:21 · 21 answers · asked by ? 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Science Channel has a show that comes on in January called "If We Had No Moon"
National Geographic Channel also has a show called "Moon Mysteries" about the moon's influence on earth.
Set your VCR!
2006-12-30 14:53:57 · answer #1 · answered by Ms. K. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the moon were to vanish instantly, the most significant change would be the sudden displacement of the Earth-moon barycenter, and depending when the moon vanished, can drastically alter the orbital path of the Earth about the sun. Not enough to go wandering around the solar system, but could be enough to profoundly change the Earth's climate and seasons.
For those that think nothing would happen to the earth's orbit if the moon were to suddenly vanish, imagine that the Earth and the moon are connected by a string and whirling about the barycenter or center of mass. Then cut the string. What happens? The Earth will probably continue orbiting the sun, but the orbital path will be very noticeably altered, depending on when "the string was cut".
2006-12-30 22:37:13 · answer #2 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A shift in the barycenter would be catastrophic?? Why's that? The Earth and moon are currently circling the center of gravity for our planet/moon system, which is about 1000 miles inside the surface. If the moon disappears, the center of gravity just moves to the center of the Earth, and the orbit restabilizes. There's shouldn't be much difference to the orbit or the climate.
As for other possible consequences, I seriously doubt the ecosystem would be affected in a major way. The statements about tides being critical to life are definite exaggerations. I suppose seabirds would have to work a little harder for their food, but aside from that, I'd say tides create ecological confusion more than anything else (whales beached when the tide recedes, for example).
As for animal behavior being affected by the moon, I can't imagine the moon's disappearance being too catastrophic for them. Coyotes would find something else to bay at. Maybe human females would be the most affected - without the moon for timing, their periods would probably get all screwed up (heh heh).
2006-12-30 23:00:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have asked a very interesting question which I will give my own personal views on. When the Moon "does" suddenly take off, the Gravitational forces created by the movement of the Moon away from us, will cause the Earth to tilt on its axis, whereby the Earth will rotate and the north pole will suddenly move to a new position (eg. it might end up at where our equator was for example !). When this happeneds, our Earth will gravitationally pull itself apart, with the ultimate result being complete and utter devastation. I hope and pray I am wrong with this terrible news, but I think this could happen within the next 50 years or so. You have certainly asked a very interesting question, and don't believe that there is no life on the Moon, because there "is" !
2006-12-31 03:18:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Two things to keep in mind: the physical and sociological effects of its disappearance. For the physical aspect, tides would greatly diminish (the sun also causes the tides, which is why there are two high and low tides a day instead of just one) and animals that rely on moonlight would be affected (e.g. baby sea turtles who look for moon light reflecting off the ocean to know which way to go). I'll let you think a little about the sociological impact concerning the loss of the Chinese New Year, no more moonlit strolls or other poetic images, the one place not of this world that man has set foot, etc.
2006-12-30 22:53:20 · answer #5 · answered by Jay B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The muslims would go off! They would blame Bush for taking away the symbol for their pagan moon god allah that they are trying to say is the real God of the Bible, and they would launch terrorist attacks all over the world.
The tides would also be much less than they are now.
2006-12-31 14:35:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon serves to stabilize the earth's rotation axis, if it were to suddenly disappear, the earth's axis of rotation would start to wabble all over and completely screw up the seasons. Some think this would lead to the earth being uninhabitable due to plant life dying off.
2006-12-31 01:24:53 · answer #7 · answered by ZeedoT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There would be no more tides.
Any sea-life which requires tidal action for reproduction would die off. Potentially triggering an Eco disaster. Salt water marsh eco systems would be severly impacted. Ocean currents would be impacted as well, this would have imapct on weather and eco systems. (Change in currents would impact upwelling of nutrients from ocean depths)
Nights would be less romantic...
Not sure about this one BUT Its possible that the earths core might experience some cooling due to loss of heat generated by tidal forces on earths interior.
Ware-wolves would not be able to change... [I couldn't resist :-) ]
2006-12-30 23:30:49 · answer #8 · answered by MarkG 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The spinning of earth would not change
A long time ago a day was 18 hours
2006-12-31 00:43:59 · answer #9 · answered by lostonthevoid 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Earth would Not Stop Rotating nothing much would happen except no more hi tides
2006-12-30 22:24:13 · answer #10 · answered by Techman2 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋