CATASTROPHIC SCENARIOS THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IF THE EARTH STOPPED SPINNING

WE WOULD GO FOR ONE HECK OF A

ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

Gravity keeps us firmly rooted to the planet’s surface, especially

useful considering – if on the equator – Earth’s rotation shoots

us through space at 1,040 miles per hour (1,674 kmh). Compare

this to a transoceanic Boeing 777 which can only reach top speeds

of 590 miles per hour. Thus, if the Earth stopped spinning, we

would be hurtled sideways at 1,040 miles per hour.

BUT WE WOULDN'T FLY INTO SPACE

Some science-fiction films would have us believe if the Earth stopped

spinning we would be launched into space. Despite getting

hurtled sideways, we would not fly off into space. Since Earth’s

escape velocity is 25,020 miles per hour (40,000 kmh), we would not

have enough speed – only moving at 1,040 mph – to leave the planet.

A GLOBAL HURRICANE WOULD DESTROY

COUNTLESS CITIES

But, since our atmosphere turns at the same speed, an abrupt stop

would create a massively destructive hurricane over nearly

our entire planet.

A GLOBAL TSUNAMI WOULD ROLL IN

Remember Newton’s First Law? An object in motion will remain in

motion unless acted upon by an external force. Since our oceans

are in constant movement as well, the momentum will hurl them

around just like us, creating tsunamis that could reach over

17 miles (27.4 km) inland in less than a minute.

AN EARTHQUAKE WOULD ROCK THE WORLD

The different forces acting on Earth are so perfectly balanced that

we rarely experience or notice a change in them. When we do,

natural disasters such as earthquakes happen. If our planet were

to stop spinning, the delicate balance would be immediately

disrupted and earthquakes would be triggered all over the planet.

FIRES WOULD IGNITE EVERYWHERE

The rapid change in wind speed and the development of hurricanes

mentioned above would create a force so strong fires would

spontaneously ignite across the planet. (Think about how friction

caused by rubbing two sticks together can cause a fire.)

GPS WOULD BE THROWN OFF

Global positioning systems (GPS) use satellites loaded with intricate

and elaborate calculations to determine the users’ location on

Earth. If our globe stopped rotating, the specific calculations

would be thrown off. Though it may not seem like a big deal for

your inter-city trip to that fancy new restaurant, planes rely on

GPS to get between airports. With GPS’ calculations thrown off,

planes will shoot way off course, likely resulting in

numerous crashes and fatalities.

THE SKY WE SEE WOULD BE MORE STATIC

If the Earth stopped spinning, most of what we see in the night sky

would, too. The stars in the sky would appear to freeze in place,

though we would still notice the other planets continuing their orbits.

THE MOON WOULD EVENTUALLY CRASH INTO EARTH

The Moon is currently (slowly) drifting away from Earth. With the

Earth stopped, the Moon would slowly drift closer to Earth until it

impacts the planet many millions of years in the future.