The Earth is slowing down, although very, very slowly. The gravitational pull of the sun slows the rotation. The impact of space debris, plus the friction of moving through the solar wind, plus the gravitaional pull of the other planets is slowing the revolution of the Earth around the sun. But, these forces are so slight, that the Earth will still be rotating and revolving (although slower than today) when the sun finally blows up into a red giant and engulfs the Earth, 5 to 6 billion years from now.
2007-04-13 14:21:49
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answer #1
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answered by ? 7
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Nothing to stop it. The first law of thermodynamics says that a body in motion will stay in motion unless another force is exerted on it.
In space, there is no friction (nothing out there like air or water to slow it down). The only force acting on the planet is gravity, and that simply keeps the planet in orbit around the sun. If the sun were to suddenly disappear the earth would simply move in a straight line (tangent to the orbit at the moment gravity vanished).
We're used to things slowing down on earth because there is friction with the air and/or with the ground that slows down anything moving on its own.
2007-04-13 14:16:11
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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There's nothing to slow it down, really, asside from occasional impacts. But impacts are as likely to be in a direction that would speed us up as they are to slow us down. All in all, it sorta evens out over the long run.
2007-04-13 14:21:17
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answer #3
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answered by socialdeevolution 4
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Gravity keeps it in orbit around the Sun.
2007-04-13 14:28:58
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answer #4
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answered by eri 7
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a) because it can
b) because Newton's first law says that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by another force
c) the other planets's gravity is puching it
2007-04-13 14:13:32
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answer #5
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answered by The Ponderer 3
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There is no friction or other force to stop it from moving.
2007-04-13 14:14:19
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answer #6
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answered by John S 6
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inertia
2007-04-13 15:53:56
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answer #7
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answered by colbyismyfriend577 2
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