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

Last Updated: 01.07.2025 15:35

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

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

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

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

13 million years ago, this object released as much energy as a billion suns in a fraction of a second! - Farmingdale Observer

Does the solid Earth + the oceans stop spinning?

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

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.

Why do Trump supporters believe Trump should deport the immigrants? These people you call "illegal immigrants" have lived here for many years, they have houses, jobs, how can you think they will just go back to their country, where they have nothing?

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?

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

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

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

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.

In space, no one can hear you scream — But it still gets incredibly noisy - Salon.com

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