What happens to us/earth if the earth suddenly stops rotating?

In summary, the conversation involved discussing hypothetical scenarios involving the Earth's rotation and its potential effects on humans and the planet. While these scenarios are not likely to occur, they sparked interesting discussions about physics and the laws of nature. Some entertaining short stories were also mentioned that explore similar scenarios.
  • #1
Gaute Huus
3
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Okay, so I present to you three different "scenarios". I'm pretty new to physics, and I can't seem to think this out for myself. Please ask questions, and excuse my english.

I've been wondering for some time what would happen to us (and the earth) if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating, like in a blink. I understand Earth has friction, and that we (humans) are held in place by inertia.

Also I've been wondering what would happen if the Earth stopped completely for, say one tenth of a second, and then accelerated instantly again to its 1000 mph rotation. (Supposed to be a question)

And lastly, what would happen if the Earth suddenly changed it's rotation and started rotating a 1000 mph to the west instead of to the east?

I know probably none of these scenarios are very likely (if even possible).

- Gaute Huus
 
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  • #2
If the Earth suddenly stopped rotating, then according to Newton's first law, any object not attached to the ground would carry on traveling parrallel to the ground at an initial velocity of 1000mph.
 
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  • #3
Gaute Huus said:
Okay, so I present to you three different "scenarios". I'm pretty new to physics, and I can't seem to think this out for myself. Please ask questions, and excuse my english.

I've been wondering for some time what would happen to us (and the earth) if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating, like in a blink. I understand Earth has friction, and that we (humans) are held in place by inertia.

Also I've been wondering what would happen if the Earth stopped completely for, say one tenth of a second, and then accelerated instantly again to its 1000 mph rotation. (Supposed to be a question)

And lastly, what would happen if the Earth suddenly changed it's rotation and started rotating a 1000 mph to the west instead of to the east?

I know probably none of these scenarios are very likely (if even possible).

- Gaute Huus

Welcome to PF. There's a problem with your question; you are essentially asking "If we imagine violation of physics X what would the laws of physics have to say?" This is not a good approach to science.

It is not possible for the Earth to just stop rotating. Some action is required to stop it and depending on what this action is will affect the answer to your question.
 
  • #4
Gaute Huus said:
Okay, so I present to you three different "scenarios". I'm pretty new to physics, and I can't seem to think this out for myself. Please ask questions, and excuse my english.

I've been wondering for some time what would happen to us (and the earth) if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating, like in a blink. I understand Earth has friction, and that we (humans) are held in place by inertia.

Also I've been wondering what would happen if the Earth stopped completely for, say one tenth of a second, and then accelerated instantly again to its 1000 mph rotation. (Supposed to be a question)

And lastly, what would happen if the Earth suddenly changed it's rotation and started rotating a 1000 mph to the west instead of to the east?

I know probably none of these scenarios are very likely (if even possible).

- Gaute Huus

H. G. Wells wrote a delightful short story about this scenario:

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/wells/hg/w45mw/
 
  • #5
Thank you for all of your answers. The result can be various different things, depending on which way the Earth is "stopped". I'm going to try speculating more with that information in mind.

And thanks again!
 
  • #6
Gaute Huus said:
Okay, so I present to you three different "scenarios". I'm pretty new to physics, and I can't seem to think this out for myself. Please ask questions, and excuse my english.

I've been wondering for some time what would happen to us (and the earth) if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating, like in a blink. I understand Earth has friction, and that we (humans) are held in place by inertia.

Also I've been wondering what would happen if the Earth stopped completely for, say one tenth of a second, and then accelerated instantly again to its 1000 mph rotation. (Supposed to be a question)

And lastly, what would happen if the Earth suddenly changed it's rotation and started rotating a 1000 mph to the west instead of to the east?

I know probably none of these scenarios are very likely (if even possible).

- Gaute Huus

Earth can't just stop rotating or orbiting around the Sun due to gravitational forces, unless the Sun suddenly disappears or another body 'rolls up' into our solar system in a certain area and then we would start orbiting that said body - Newton said we would straight away go off course if the sun suddenly disappears - But according to Einstein, we would have to wait 8 minutes (the time it takes for gravity to take effect at our distance from the Sun) then we would go off course. For the human part we would eventually die since it would get bloody cold.

We wouldn't feel the 'stop and go' due to the Theory of Relativity, since we are not accelerating (but I think that only applies if the rate of speed at which we are rotating is constant).

(Sorry if any of this is wrong, I'm only 14 :L)
 
  • #7
ryan_m_b said:
Welcome to PF. There's a problem with your question; you are essentially asking "If we imagine violation of physics X what would the laws of physics have to say?" This is not a good approach to science.

Andy Resnick said:
H. G. Wells wrote a delightful short story about this scenario:

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/wells/hg/w45mw/

It's not a good approach to science, but it does make for a very entertaining short story.

As does Isaac Asimov's "The Billiard Ball". This has the entire short story collection (including the great story, "Nightfall"), but you can go to "The Billiard Ball" by scrolling up to the beginning of the document, clicking on the navigation icon and then on "The Billiard Ball".

http://www.polvoestelar.com.mx/babilonia/Libros/Isaac%20Asimov/English/Short%20Stories/Isaac%20Asimov%20-%20The%20Best%20of%20Isaac%20Asimov.pdf
 
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  • #8
before answering your question,there are some essential things that you should know.
1)than due to rotation,our Earth becomes an accelerated frame,so as long as we are on it we experience a pseudo force that has a value of mv2/r.here r depends on our coordinates as at defferent places on Earth there are different associated radius of rotation.
2)the resultant of the main core gravitational force and pseudo force decides the apparent g.all the buildings and architectural habituals are made on the basis of this apparent g.if the value of this g changes by a margin,then these builings may collide.

now let us answer your questions:-
ans1)if Earth suddenly stops rotating,all objects not fixed on its place will move in outer space with a particular velocity(i.e the linear rotational velocity at that instant).this objects will be influenced bythe gravitational force.those objects facing more air drag will move towards Earth and all other in outer space.as discussed in point 2,the apparent g will return it's value as normal g,and hence where this change is big,buildings and other things will break and may move out in outer space.
ans2)in this questions those thing that move in outer space will move out with 1000mph and all fixed objects will get damaged due to actin of non constant force in small interval of time(i.e gravity+pseudo,then only pseudo,and then gravity and pseudo again).the acceleration for achieving 1000mph again will further effect the apparent g for that interval of time.
ans3)the mixture of ans1 and ans2 will happen in this case.

note:-as centre of mass doesn't changes due to rotation,so don't consider that concept..
hope it might help you..
nice question...
 

FAQ: What happens to us/earth if the earth suddenly stops rotating?

1. What would happen to the day and night cycle?

If the Earth were to suddenly stop rotating, the day and night cycle would no longer exist. One side of the Earth would be constantly facing the Sun, experiencing perpetual daylight, while the other side would be in constant darkness.

2. How would this affect the Earth's climate?

The Earth's rotation helps to distribute heat and regulate the climate. Without rotation, there would be extreme temperature differences between the light and dark sides of the Earth, causing drastic changes in the climate and weather patterns.

3. Would gravity be affected?

The Earth's rotation creates a centrifugal force that helps to counteract the pull of gravity. If the Earth stopped rotating, this force would disappear, resulting in a slightly stronger gravitational pull at the equator and a weaker pull at the poles.

4. What would happen to the oceans and tides?

The Earth's rotation also plays a crucial role in creating tides, as the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun interact with the Earth's rotation. Without rotation, tides would be drastically altered and may even stop completely in some areas.

5. Could life on Earth survive without the Earth's rotation?

It is highly unlikely that complex life forms would be able to survive without the Earth's rotation. The extreme changes in climate, lack of day and night cycle, and alterations to gravity and tides would greatly disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems and make it difficult for life to adapt and survive.

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