Answer to Question #47941 in Physics for Elle

Question

It was thought that the material that was to become the moon began as part of the earth. This fission theory was proposed that back in the time when the earth was composed of magma the earth's rotation was fast enough to eject some of the magma into space, where it cooled to be the moon. If this theory was true what would the rotation period of the earth need to be? Assume the material is on the equated and rotation is sufficient enough that the weight at the equator would be 0 if placed on a scale. That is, the object's weight is just sufficient to keep it traveling in a circle with a radius equal to the earth's. Give answer in hours.