Horrifying simulation shows what would happen if the Earth stopped spinning

Imagine you’re sitting at home, sipping the perfect cuppa, and suddenly the world stops spinning – what do you think would happen next?

Well, according to a simulation that has been posted online for all to see, it’s not a great process.

While there isn’t currently any known mechanism that could stop Earth from spinning, that doesn’t mean an unknown object could do that very thing in the future.

And if it does happen, then there will be quite a few things that happen to everyone living on Earth – and none of them are pleasant.

According to Lunar Cheeseee on TikTok, the world wouldn’t just stop to a firm halt immediately.

First, it would begin to slow from its current speed of 1037 miles per hour east on the equator.

Almost immediately, cracks would begin to form on the pavement around you, and your ability to stand upright without falling would become nearly impossible as small objects fly past.

Once speeds get down to 1028, that’s when the terror truly begins.

Per the simulation, which shows people on a street surrounded by businesses, the buildings and street signs start to peel away and fly east – and so do the people.

At 800 miles per hour, structures crumble and slide along the ground as the world’s population is propelled away, travelling at incredible speeds while the Earth remains rooted to the spot.

700 miles an hour and skyscrapers are next to fall, and there’s practically no person visible as the heavier objects are ripped from their spot on the world.

At between 300 and 200 miles, the simulation claims that the ‘wind is now faster than sound’ and all you can see is debris whipping past before finally, cargo ships and oceans crash past.

You might be wondering why everything keeps moving when the Earth itself stops.

That’s because, like when you brake suddenly in a car, the force of your momentum continues to propel you. Which is why you need a seat belt to hold you back.

However, if you move toward the poles, you will feel the impact of the force less and less because each point is a at higher latitude.

For example, in New York City, the surface speed is around 790 miles per hour, and at the poles, the Earth’s rotation is essentially zero, because they are at the planet’s axis of rotation.

So, in theory, if you were situated at either pole, you might not notice what’s going on until the oceans are crashing through.

Because of this, people online have commented under the simulation video that being at the poles could bring a person a chance of survival.

However, that’s not to say the poles would remain unscathed considering everything on Earth is propelling itself East. That's a lot of speed, and weight, which could do something like shift tectonic plates, and more.

“So much water would be displaced onto the continents and back that you'd definitely experience a tsunami,” said one person.

“And this is the ‘gradual’ stop. Imagine just suddenly stopping down to 0. Every single object is now a ballistic missile,” said another.