what would happen if inertia was the only force being acting on the earth?
Inertia is not a force. It is resistance to acceleration. The measure of inertia is mass.
Without mass there would be no Earth.
If inertia was the only force acting on the Earth, several consequences would occur:
1. Straight-line motion: The Earth would continue moving in a straight line at a constant velocity, matching its current speed and direction. This is because inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.
2. No rotation: There would be no rotational motion of the Earth. Currently, the Earth rotates on its axis, which gives rise to day and night. Without any forces counteracting inertia, the Earth would not rotate.
3. No gravity: Gravity, which is responsible for keeping objects on the Earth's surface and governing the motion of celestial bodies, would not exist. Gravity is essential for maintaining the Earth's orbit around the Sun, as well as the orbital paths of other planets and moons.
4. No tides: Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth's oceans. In this scenario, there would be no tidal forces, resulting in the absence of tides.
5. No atmosphere: Without gravity, the Earth would not be able to hold onto its atmosphere. The gases surrounding our planet would disperse into space, leaving the Earth without any protection from solar radiation and extreme temperatures.
In summary, if inertia were the only force acting on the Earth, it would result in a lack of rotation, no gravity or tides, and the eventual loss of its atmosphere.
If inertia was the only force acting on the Earth, a few things would occur:
1. Uniform motion: Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion. In the case of the Earth, if only inertia were at play, the Earth would continue moving in a straight line at a constant speed. There would be no acceleration or deceleration, and the Earth would move in a straight path without any forces altering its trajectory.
2. No gravitational attraction: The force of gravity between the Earth and other celestial bodies would not exist. Inertia alone cannot explain the force of gravitational attraction, which holds celestial bodies together and governs the motion of planets, moons, and other objects in the universe.
3. No orbital motion: Without gravity, the Earth would not be held in orbit around the Sun. The Sun's gravitational force is responsible for the Earth's elliptical path around it. Without this force, the Earth would no longer revolve around the Sun, and its motion would be solely determined by inertia.
4. No rotation: Inertia would prevent any changes in the Earth's rotational motion. However, other factors such as the gravitational force exerted by the Moon and the Sun, as well as the Earth's own internal forces, are responsible for its rotation. Without these forces, the Earth would not spin on its axis, causing significant changes to the length of a day, weather patterns, and climate.
In summary, if inertia was the only force acting on the Earth, there would be no gravity, no orbital motion around the Sun, no rotation on its axis, and the Earth would continue moving in a straight line at a constant speed.