Why don't we feel the Earth spinning?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: We spin with Earth at same speed
We spin with Earth at same speed ✓ — Correct! We move with Earth at the same constant speed, so there's no relative motion to feel. It's like being in a smoothly cruising airplane - you don't feel the 500 mph speed because you, the plane, and the air inside all move together. Earth's rotation is so smooth and constant that everything moves together. We only feel changes in speed or direction (acceleration), not constant motion.
Earth's rotation is very slow — Wrong. Earth actually rotates quite fast—about 1,000 mph at the equator! The reason we don't feel it is that we move at the same constant speed as Earth, not because rotation is slow.
The atmosphere cushions us — Wrong. The atmosphere rotates with Earth at the same speed we do, but this isn't what prevents us from feeling the spin. We don't feel motion because we're moving at a constant velocity with Earth. If Earth suddenly stopped spinning, we'd definitely feel it!
More Astronomy & Space questions
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- Why is fission likelier than fusion for first Moon bases?
