What if the Earth suddenly stopped spinning?

Current astrophysical models describe the formation of planets from rotating disks. This rotational motion is then transmitted to the protoplanet formed by virtue of conservation of angular momentum. So all planets are supposed to rotate, and Earth is no exception. But what if our planet suddenly stopped spinning?

If the rotation stops, the angular momentum of every object on Earth will rip its surface, which would be a disaster. However, like James Zimpelman, a geologist at Smithsonian National Air and Space MuseumThere is no natural force that prevents the Earth from spinning. This is partly why our planet has been spinning since its formation.

The Earth rotates completely on its axis every 23 hours 56 minutes 4.09053 seconds. This results in the equator moving at about 1,770 km/h, with rotational speed dropping to zero at the poles, according to Zimbelman. If the planet suddenly stopped, the angular momentum transmitted to air, water and even rocks along the equator would continue to move at a speed of 1,770 km / h. The movement will clean the surface as it shreds and send fragments into the upper regions of the atmosphere and space.

Linear momentum is the product of an object’s mass and velocity (direction and velocity). A passenger in a moving vehicle that stops suddenly will continue to move forward due to linear momentum. Angular momentum is a rotational analogue of linear momentum. It is the product of the moment of inertia (the rotational force required to rotate the mass) and the angular velocity. One of the basic principles of physics is the conservation of angular momentum. Once something is spinning, you have to exert the same force in the opposite direction to keep it from spinning.

Chaotic condition of the earth

According to Zimbelman, pieces that are cut off from the surface will regain some rotation as Earth and its remnants continue on their path around the Sun. Eventually, the planet’s gravitational pull will restore the shrapnel’s aura to an unexpected effect. “ What Isaac Newton helped us understand in classical mechanics is that parts that accumulate and clump together release some of their energy in the form of heat. Indique Zimbelman.

Remnants that ended up in the far reaches of the atmosphere and outer space would be attracted to the surface by the planet’s gravity, and would release energy upon impact. Zimpelman explains that the constant bombardment of these blocks would turn the crust into an ocean of molten rock. Eventually, the colliding fragments will be reabsorbed back into the molten sea through a process called accretion.

The rapid and destructive transformation would also cause most of the water on the planet’s surface to evaporate. While most of this evaporating water will be lost, some can be incorporated into newly solid minerals, such as olivine. Finally, not all parts will be re-absorbed by accumulation. Some planets will be swept away by the moon’s gravitational pull, bombarding the nearby satellite and creating countless craters on its surface.