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Question
If the Earth stopped revolving around the Sun what do you think would happen to all the people on Earth?
Hello.
If the Earth stopped *revolving* around the Sun, there would no longer be any centripetal force to ensure it maintained a circular orbit. (Since this force depends on Earth's orbital velocity around the Sun)
The Earth would, in effect, fly off at a tangent to its circular orbit and plunge far into the depths of space. Away from any heat, sunlight or anything to sustain human life (remember that sunlight provides plants with energy for photo-synthesis).
Thus, every human on Earth would perish.
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Answers by Expert:
Philip Stahl
Expertise
I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.
Experience
Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.
Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union
Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.
Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics
Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research
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