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What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning for one minute?

08.06.2025 02:27

What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning for one minute?

Does it stop due to a massive collision, or does it stop by magic?

If the whole Earth stops by magic, with the angular momentum just vanishing and then reappearing, then the result is very minor. Every clock on Earth would need to be recalibrated against our satellites (unless they magically got paused as well). Siderial, solar, and atomic time would all be out of sync. Other than that, everybody would want to know: What the heck just happened? How did Earth magically stop and start again? But everybody is just fine.

If only the atmosphere keeps going, Earth’s surface is blasted with winds moving at hundreds of miles per hour. Most people die.

How do flat earthers explain the Earth being stationary? Is this concept considered impossible?

“What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning for one minute?”

Bottom line: Depending on the underlying intent of the question, the answer could be anything from the destruction of the planet and every living thing, to a minor inconvenience that requires resetting our clocks.

If the oceans keep going, Earth’s surface is scoured clean by tsunamis moving at hundreds of miles per hour. Nearly everyone dies.

I’m worried I have a bat bite on my hand, I have two small marks about 1 cm apart. I haven’t been in contact with a bat but I’m worried about at night. My fingers have a slight tingling sensation and my arm feels cold but isn’t. Am I ok?

If it stops by magic, does all the energy from Earth’s angular momentum also disappear by magic, or is it released as heat?

The answer depends entirely on how you interpret the question, which is why you see so many completely different responses.

Does the rocky planet alone stop spinning?

Why does my crush always looks at me in a sad way whenever I talk with other boys, and if he catch me staring on him then he go and flirt with other girls and then check if I am looking at him?

If Earth’s rotation is stopped and all the angular momentum is released as heat, everyone dies.

Does the solid Earth + the oceans stop spinning?

Does the whole planet (from core to atmosphere) stop spinning?

Why wasn't Queen as successful in America as in other countries? Then, after Radio Ga Ga, they couldn't even get into the top 40 in America even when these songs were top 10 hits everywhere else in the world.

If Earth’s rotation is stopped by a collision, everyone dies. The planet is destroyed.