Have you ever wondered what would happen if the Earth suddenly stopped spinning? In this captivating clip by xkcd’s What If?, you’ll explore the possible consequences of such a scenario.

While we may not feel it, the Earth is actually spinning at a rapid speed, with some locations traveling over 1000 MPH depending on their latitude.

In this thought-provoking video, What If? delves into the hypothetical situation where the Earth’s rotation abruptly halts, but the atmosphere continues to move. The results? Well, they aren’t very promising for living creatures or structures.

As the video explains, the sudden stoppage of the Earth’s rotation would lead to extreme winds and massive waves. The lack of rotation would cause the atmosphere to continue moving at high speeds, resulting in hurricane-like winds all over the planet. These winds would wreak havoc, destroying buildings and causing widespread devastation.

Furthermore, the sudden change in rotation would disrupt the equilibrium of the Earth’s oceans. Gigantic waves, known as tidal waves or tsunamis, would form and sweep across the globe, causing immense flooding and further destruction.

The video presents this hypothetical scenario in a visually engaging and informative manner, using animation and clear explanations to help viewers understand the potential consequences.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the Earth’s rotation ceased, this video by xkcd’s What If? is definitely worth a watch. Brace yourself for a thought-provoking exploration of a scenario that, thankfully, exists only in the realm of imagination.