How does the earth keep spinning on its axis?

In summary, the Earth continues to spin on its axis because it still has the energy it gained when it was formed and there is very little drag in space to slow it down. While there is some drag, it is not enough to significantly impact the Earth's spin. However, the Earth's spin is gradually slowing down due to both drag and gravitational influence from the moon.
  • #1
alias25
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how does the Earth keep spining on its axis?
is it because it still has the energy it gained when it was formed because it doesn't lose energy into space cause there's no particles out there, but then i was thinking does it loes any energy through IR radiation?
just curious.
 
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  • #2
Your initial supposition is essentially correct; the Earth continues to spin because space has very little drag to slow it down. However, space is not exactly perfectly empty, so there is some drag. This drag contributes a tiny bit to the fact that the Earth is indeed slowing down very gradually. However, most of this deceleration is due to gravitational influence from the moon.
 

1. How does the earth keep spinning on its axis?

The earth keeps spinning on its axis due to its angular momentum. This is a result of the earth's initial rotation when it was formed and its continued rotation due to gravitational forces from other celestial bodies.

2. What causes the earth to spin?

The earth's spin is caused by a combination of its initial rotation and the gravitational pull of the sun and other planets. This rotation creates the earth's angular momentum.

3. Does the earth's rotation ever change?

Yes, the earth's rotation is constantly changing due to various factors such as the gravitational pull of the moon, earthquakes, and the movement of the earth's tectonic plates. However, these changes are very small and occur over long periods of time.

4. How fast does the earth spin on its axis?

The earth spins at a speed of approximately 1,037 miles per hour (1,670 kilometers per hour) at the equator. This speed decreases as you move closer to the poles.

5. What would happen if the earth stopped spinning?

If the earth were to suddenly stop spinning, the effects would be catastrophic. The side of the earth facing the sun would experience extreme heat and the side facing away from the sun would experience extreme cold. This would also cause changes in the earth's atmosphere, ocean currents, and weather patterns. It is unlikely that the earth will ever stop spinning completely, but it is possible for its rotation to slow down over time.

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