If the Earth were to suddenly stop rotating, the effects would be catastrophic, but people wouldn't exactly "fall off" the Earth. The Earth's rotation contributes to its shape, and sudden cessation would lead to various consequences.
Inertia: The Earth's rotation gives everything on its surface, including the atmosphere and oceans, a certain amount of rotational inertia. If the Earth were to stop rotating abruptly, objects and the atmosphere would retain their rotational velocity. This means that everything not firmly attached to the Earth's surface would experience a sudden eastward motion.
Catastrophic Winds: The atmosphere is rotating along with the Earth, and if the Earth were to stop, the atmosphere would keep moving at high speeds due to its inertia. This would result in extremely powerful winds, potentially reaching speeds of over 1,000 miles per hour, causing devastation on a global scale.
Ocean Effects: The oceans are also affected by the Earth's rotation, leading to the creation of ocean currents. The sudden stop would cause massive tidal waves and disruptions in ocean currents, affecting marine life and coastal areas.
Geological Effects: The Earth's rotation has an impact on its shape, causing it to be slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. The sudden stop would likely result in significant geological activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Gravity: While people wouldn't literally fall off the Earth, the sudden stop would affect the distribution of gravitational forces. This could lead to changes in the Earth's shape and potentially alter the gravitational pull in different regions.
In summary, if the Earth were to suddenly stop rotating, it would cause catastrophic and potentially life-threatening consequences, but people wouldn't simply fall off the Earth. The effects would be widespread and severe, impacting the atmosphere, oceans, and geological stability.
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