Buzz
1. All the water on Earth would gather into two massive oceans and a new continent would emerge
The water, which is currently pulled to the equator due to centrifugal force, would redistribute itself if the Earth stopped spinning. This redistribution would result in the creation of two enormous oceans at the poles, and the landmass at the equator would rise to form a gigantic new continent stretching across the planet along the equator.
2. Volcanoes, Storms, and Earthquakes Will Begin to Form
The immense dynamic force of the Earth and its momentum will shake the planet all the way to its core. As a result, the outcome is entirely predictable: massive storms, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes will devastate everything in their path.
3. The Earth Will Transform from a Geoid into a Spherical Shape
The geographical shape of Earth is influenced by its rotational motion. It is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator (as discussed in Professor Etienne Ghys's lecture from ENS de Lyon). If the planet were to stop, its shape would eventually become spherical.
4. One hemisphere will be as hot as a desert, while the other will be as cold as Antarctica
If Earth continues its orbit around the Sun, one half will be scorched and perpetually bright with the highest temperatures at the equator. The second hemisphere will become a kingdom of eternal darkness and cold as frigid as Antarctica. NASA offers a different version: Earth will cease to rotate completely, leading to a day lasting 6 months, followed by a night of the same duration.
5. Earth's magnetic field, which protects us from dangerous cosmic radiation, would disappear
The magnetic field is primarily created by the movement of Earth's outer core (mostly iron) and the planet's rotation. Astronomer Sten Odenwald predicts that if Earth stops rotating on its axis, the magnetic field would vanish. Charged particles from the Sun would then destroy all life on Earth.
6. If humanity survives, we will only inhabit the border between heat and cold, day and night
Humanity would only be able to adapt to the new conditions at the boundary between day and night. People would have to live underground and venture outside only in protective suits to shield them from radiation.
7. The moon will slowly fall toward Earth
Professor Vaughan Pratt from Stanford University has stated that the Moon will gradually slow down and its distance from Earth will decrease. Over time, it could eventually fall towards our planet.
Source: BRIGHTSIDE
8. All objects will fly towards the East at extremely high speeds due to their own momentum
We wouldn't feel the immense speed at which Earth rotates on its axis. NASA astronomer Sten Odenwald explains that if Earth were to stop rotating, everything on its surface would be torn from the ground and fly eastward at tremendous speeds, eventually falling back down. At the equator, the speed would be the highest (about 1610 km/h), while near the poles, it would reach 1288 km/h.
9. Enormous tsunamis will emerge
The force of momentum will cause the waters of seas and oceans to move, generating massive tsunamis that will travel eastward and devastate coastal cities across the Earth's surface.
10. A massive storm will arise
The atmosphere will continue to move, and the momentum of the air will cause it to rotate around the planet – possibly several times. The initial speed of the air currents will be extremely high, over 1771 km/h. And Earth could lose a portion of its atmosphere.
