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

Last Updated: 20.06.2025 07:59

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

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

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

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

Why do women stubbornly refuse to let men lead, even though they are attracted to the man, and the man both loves and desires them? Why do they get angry and blame the man when he gets fed up and walks away, when it's entirely their own fault?

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

Does the rocky planet alone stop spinning?

My boss called me on a Saturday to let me know he that due to financial reasons, I was no longer needed effective immediatley. 3 days later, he sends me a text asking about work issues. How do I respond?

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

Does the solid Earth + the oceans stop spinning?

Why do men find women with bigger buttocks attractive?

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

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

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

I see ugly guys dating gorgeous, "hot" women all the time. I, too, am not very attractive but I'm not doing well with the ladies. What's their secret?

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