2007-02-20 14:02:22 · 8 answers · asked by steve h 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
How, exactly? If the Earth stopped in it's tracks, it would fall into the sun due to the graviational forces - gravity can keep it in a stable orbit, but only when it's moving at a constant velocity. If the sun were suddenly gone, the Earth would move in a straight line out of the solar system - there's not much to slow it down, and no gravity to keep it in a circle.
2007-02-20 14:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is right that if the earth stopped orbiting the sun, it would fall into the sun due to the gravitational attraction. It would not fly off because if it stopped that would mean it had no inertia to throw itself out of the solar system.
But, if somehow you were able to keep the earth at the same distance, the summers and winters would be slightly more alike in temperature. That's because when the earth orbits the sun, its orbit is elliptical so it is nearer the sun at certain parts of its orbit and farther from the sun at other parts. If stopped it would always be at the same distance from the sun.
2007-02-20 14:24:23 · answer #2 · answered by Twizard113 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way that could happen is if it slammed into another planet of the same size and that would turn both into ballls of molten rock. At that point the resultant mass would fall into the sun.
2007-02-20 14:13:24 · answer #3 · answered by Michael da Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What would happen? I guess depending on the point of view the stories could vary. Our Sun couldn't care... Jupiter probably wouldn't even notice... Pluto can't even see that far so there would be unnoticeable if any impact. Oh, and you would probably die ( no impact there ;-) ).
I guess nothing much would happen that would be of any concern to anybody from any other world.
2007-02-20 14:15:35 · answer #4 · answered by Dwayne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, half of the Earth would be burning hot, and the other half would be freezing cold. And other planets would probably crash into Earth, and the solar system would fall apart
2007-02-20 14:06:53 · answer #5 · answered by The Ponderer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Earth would die without solar nourishment
2007-02-20 18:07:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would either crash into the Sun, or wander off into space. In either case, we would all die.
2007-02-20 14:06:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would get ***** cold.
2007-02-24 07:36:45 · answer #8 · answered by chase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋