Can we unbalance Earth's rotational speed or direction if we concentrate all people, cars, etc in one location

Question

I was wondering if it was possible to unbalance the Earth's rotational velocity and rotational direction if all the Earth's population were to gather in one location, such as a single continent, along with everything else that is movable, such as cars, animals, boats, etc.
Would this displacement of mass have any effect on the Earth's center of gravity and thereby alter the spin velocity or direction?
Thanks for any answers...

Answer 1

Everything you do to accelarate mass on the surface of the earth theoritically affects the earth's rotation.

However, two things come in to play according to my way of thinking.

First, the earth is so massive that anything we do to pile up on one place is fairly inconsequential.

and, two, this reminds me of the question what would happen if everyone either ran or accelerated a vehicle at the same time, in the same direction. In that case, the small change in earth's rotation created by everyone accelerating in one direction would be partially offset by the de-acceleration that everyone would have to do before they ran out of road or simply got tired of such a silly experiment.

I found it much more interesting that earthquakes release enough energy to have a measurable effect on rotation, enough so to actually shorten a day. But, even then, the effect was extremely small and will not require us to change our definition of time.

Answer 2

The rotation of earth is based on the gravitational pull due to the sun.This gravitational force is directly proportional to the masses of the body.even though the entire population of the earth is concentrated in one location all these will be taken as a single system due to earth's gravitational force.so there won't be any change in the force of attraction between sun and the earth. Moreover the mass of the population is negligible when compared to that of the earth.

Answer 3

For "rotational velocity" defined as "finished rotations (i.e. revolutions or cycles) there are in step with time unit"... All factors on earth's floor no longer on the axis revolve as quickly as each twenty-4-ish hours. those factors seen on the axis (on the north and south poles) have not got this sources. additionally notice that "Earth's floor" could be interpreted as meaning the exterior of oceans, wherein case the action of ocean water could somewhat improve or cut back the rotational velocity length. For "linear velocity" defined as "distance traveled in step with time unit"... The farther faraway from the axis of rotation and the nearer to the equator something is, the speedier the exterior cloth of the earth would be traveling. So probably the tallest mountain nearest to the equator could have the main suitable linear velocity.

Answer 4

No. We already did it and it made not the slightest change in earth's rotational parameters. My question back to YOU is how could we have already done such a thing. I assure you we did (and continue to do it).

Answer 5

No think of it like this: doing that is basically unbalancing the earth on a 2 dimensional scale. The third dimension is far more massive then the entire other two dimensions.

Answer 6

well for one the forces must be pretty huge to break through the magnetic field. maybe x3 times the worlds air crafts flying in all one direction and with the moon eliminated from the earth's pull then it might be possible. but what kind of useful question is this

Answer 7

well the main part of the problem with the earths roatation is the moon and if you eliminate that then you can definatly count on change in rotation.

Answer 8

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonot at all 'cauz the earth is held in a place by da help of gravitational force

Answer 9

It would be like trying to stop a speeding airplane with a flea, except that you would have more success stopping the airplane.

Answer 10

Can't be done, you'd create your own natural disaster just having all the people at one place.