What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?

Answer 1

If the core of the Earth had stopped spinning, then we would all die. Let me explain how we would all be killed. First, minor things will happen, EMP's would occur, frying electronics worldwide. After that, it would take months of slow destruction. Slowly and slowly, the Earth Electromagnetic Field would deteriorate. Now I am now Geologist, but I do know that this actually protects us from massive waves of particles and microwaves shot from the sun in all directions, known as "Solar Flares". With that gone the Solar Flares will roast everything, and there will be absolutely no chance any life on Earth will exist again. So, it is best to thank our Earth for all the wonderful benefits that it is giving us. As that we do not have the technology for getting everyone off the Earth and to a more safe place. With the rate technology is advancing, we could possibly start it withing the next 100-300 years. I am not sure of this completely, but as you know, this process can take thousands to millions of years. And by then, I am sure we would have the technology to escape. So right now, we are fine. Enjoy life as much as you can.

Answer 2

This is a theoretical question; if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating, humans would probably not die instantly at all.

Most parts of a planet that does not rotate at all would actually still occasionally get some sun. A day would become the same length as a year. Most parts of the Earth would then spend about 3 months of every year in darkness, but they would spend 9 months with at least some light. Plants and animals that can survive for 3 months without exposure to the sun would easily survive. Human beings would probably survive and develop technological means for assisting other humans, plants, and animals to adapt or survive the dark parts of the year.

By contrast, a planet that always shows the same hemisphere toward the sun actually still is rotating. You can test this by observing how the hemispheres of a Basketball (representing the sun) and a Baseball (representing the Earth) face each other depending on whether the baseball is spinning or not.

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Alternate view:

If the earth stopped spinning in an instant, virtually all people on the planet would die. Some may survive who are very close to the poles. At the equator, the earth is spinning at close to 1,000 mph. Everything on the earth is moving along at the same clip. The rotational movement at the poles is very small. If the earth stops, all the people and all other physical things on the earth will continue to move as before. At the equator, this means that you would be instantly hurled into the air at 1,000 miles per hour. Water, too, will keep moving, and this alone would wipe out most of civilization. It would be a very ugly, devastating scene.

it is near impossible that the world will ever stop spinning but if it did most water on the world would flow to the poles and a mega Continent would form around the equator the pole would probably flood. we would also be fully exposed to solar flares which are usually deflected away from us by the magnetic field above us but it is no longer there because were not spinning the solar flares would burn trails through the earth. air would dissipate quickly, most of the left air would go to the north of the USA and Canada.

short answer: most people will die if not near tip of USA or middle of mega continent

if want to know more watch "aftermath : when the world stops spinning"

Answer 3

If the earth stopped spinning, it'll trigger some abominable effects. Just after the earth suddenly stopped spinning, things would float away eastwards rapidly and it might be hard to resist this momentum. This momentum might cause great damage like wildfires or the nuclear power plants would explode, which can be radioactively dangerous. The momentum would carry large tsunamis to the land. The earth's spinning keeps a constant temperature, so everywhere receives the right amount of light, heat and cold. Without the constant temperature change, the sun-facing side would gradually heat up and burn and the darkness-facing side would gradually cool down and freeze. The earth's spinning also keeps the continents and oceans stable. With the ceased earth's spinning, the bulge will change it's shape, so the earth would be a global ocean with a giant continent wrapped around the middle. The earth's spinning gives of magnetic momentum to the inner core which maintains the earth's magnetic field. The earth's magnetic field is essential because they sucks in or consume any gamma rays from space like solar winds and cosmic rays, which is very dangerous to life. The magnetic momentum won't disappear right after the earth stopped spinning but the lack of spin wouldn't be able to maintain the magnetic momentum for a long time, so it'll begin to gradually dissipate. As the magnetic momentum dissipates, the earth's magnetic field will also gradually weaken and fade away. With a weaker magnetic field, it won't be enough force to protect earth from the cosmic gamma radiations. When the momentum completely dissipates, the earth's magnetic field will cease to exist. When this happens, the space gamma radiations like the solar wind and the cosmic ray would reach down earth and can wipe out all life, which might be the end of the world. That's why the earth's spinning is essential to life. This is just an animation and it'll never happen ad the earth's spinning is very stably constant, so don't worry.

Answer 4

The first and most significant effect is that the energy released at the moment the rotation stopped would be more than enough to melt the entire surface of the earth and everything on it!