Answer to Question #90983 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Jyotika

Question

What will be the consequences on earth when gravity becomes zero

Answer 1

The consequences will be terrible! If all gravity became zero, this is just some of what would happen:

1) Our lovely planet would lose its attraction with the Sun and we'd fly far to the deep space in the direction tangential to the Earth's orbit from its current location. Our speed will be about 30 kilometers per second.

2) The Earth would lose its atmosphere and water. It would be deadly cold at nights and incredibly hot in the daytime (and keep in mind that eventually it would get colder and colder since we move away from the Sun).

3) Most of living organisms would die because of absence of air, water, food and shelter. The ultraviolet radiation would also do its worst.

4) Things not properly mounted to the ground or outside buildings would move spontaneously in the space and may reach Mars or the Moon, for instance.

5) The planets in the Solar system (as well as the Moon) will change their trajectories a bit since gravity of each planet contributes to the motion of the solar system and to the motion inside the solar system.

6) The satellites and other celestial bodies orbiting the Earth would change their trajectories and most likely would fall on the Sun.

7) Depending on how the gravity is lost, the Earth may become completely destroyed in pieces since the gravity is what makes our planet a firm ball.