What happens if the Earth moves 20cm closer to the Sun?

The Earth moves at a speed of about 30 km/s in orbit around the Sun and has an average distance of about 149 million km, balancing with the Sun's gravity.

What happens if the Earth moves 20cm closer to the Sun? Picture 1

The Sun is extremely important to life on Earth. Not only is it the primary source of light and heat for Earth, but it also creates the conditions necessary to maintain climate, weather, and many biological processes.

If the Earth moves 20cm towards the Sun, it could affect its orbit and cause a series of consequences. To maintain its new orbit, Earth will have to move faster. This is like a small ball spinning around a circular center at a faster speed as it gets closer to the center.

The Earth can also be pulled harder by the Sun's gravity and fall into the Sun if it moves too close to the Sun. At that time, the Earth will burn down. However, this scenario is unlikely because Earth's gravity is still strong enough to keep it in orbit.

If the distance between the Earth and the Sun changes, the climate and habitat on Earth are also affected. The temperature on the Earth's surface will increase as it gets closer to the Sun, causing many extreme weather phenomena.

What happens if the Earth moves 20cm closer to the Sun? Picture 2

Temperatures on Earth will increase if our planet moves closer to the Sun, which could cause rapid melting of snow and ice in the polar regions. This will lead to a rise in sea levels and could cause flooding in many coastal areas and cause already arid areas to become drier.

Living organisms, especially those adapted to cold environments, will be seriously affected, changing ecosystems and natural laws.

Rising Earth temperatures will cause extreme weather phenomena such as droughts, storms and floods to appear more frequently, affecting agriculture and food supplies. In addition, this will also increase people's need for energy for cooling. This puts pressure on resources and energy infrastructure.

Changes in the Earth's orbit can also affect the number of days in the year and the length of the year. Under the Sun's gravity, the Earth moves faster, making the year shorter and the number of days in the year will also change. This will affect people's economic, social and cultural activities.

The Earth's rotation around its axis creates day and night cycles. It takes the Earth 24 hours to rotate a complete revolution around its axis, helping to regulate the Earth's surface temperature and create biological rhythms for all living organisms. Daylight allows living organisms to carry out biological and economic activities, and darkness allows for rest and energy regeneration.

Although the Earth's 20cm shift towards the Sun seems like a small change, it can greatly affect the climate, habitat and people on Earth. Understanding and studying these phenomena will help people better prepare for changes that may occur in the future.

Samuel Daniel

Update 21 August 2024