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SubjectRe: IDE freeze for seconds
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> What is the first thing that ceases when you spin down a planet? That's
> right, gravity. Everything not tied down would just fly out into space,
> and that includes the atmosphere. Simple.

100% incorrect, so I assume you were joking :) A more correct statement
would be as follows: The core of the planet is liquid. Once an angular
momentum is given to a liquid, it is very difficult to stop its rotation
(the opposite is also true; try spinning a raw egg some time...then
compare to spinning a hard-boiled one). Thus, if you attempt to spin
down the surface of the planet, the liquid core will continue to rotate.
Consider what happens next, assuming that the bottom surface of the crust
is not even.

Other problems with spinning down the planet: Not only is the core of the
planet a liquid, but so are the oceans. Additionally, one surface of the
planet would be stopped facing the sun, resulting in an increase of
temperature there, while the antipode would cool; this could result in
very high, devastating winds. Of course, the loss of light on the dark
side of the planet would eventually result in the death of most existing
plant life, which would have repercussions throughout the food chain.
There's also the problem with the diurnal cycle being disrupted in animal
life (including homo sapiens) on both sides of the planet.

I shall leave the rest to your imagination :)

(I should also note that this is starting to get ridiculously off topic ;)
--
Kevin L. Mitchell <klmitch@mit.edu>
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http://web.mit.edu/klmitch/www/ (PGP5 keys availiable from here)
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