Expert: Paul Wagner - 4/19/2005

Question
What would happen if the Earth stopped rotating over a period of time and stopped altogether but eas still revolving.  And where did you get the anwer,and have you ever worked at NASA or a place that follws stars?

Answer
Dear Sarah:

I think this must be a homework questions....because you are the second person to ask me this today! I don't work at NASA, but I do know a lot about astronomy

Here is what I wrote the last person:
The Earth is slowing down even now, and eventually, because the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon, it will stop rotating.  DOn't worry--this is all so far into the future that it just doesn't matter.  

But if it slowed down, then the Earth would start to see much larger diurnal temperature changes--the daily difference between the highs and the lows.  Can you imagine what this would do to our weather?  It would be much hotter during the day, and much colder at night.  Winds would be very strong,a nd hurricanes would be commonplace.  

paul Wagner