Introduction: Living in the Goldilocks Zone
Hey there! Welcome to Life Noggin! We live in a part of the solar system called the Goldilocks zone, where it’s not too hot, so all the water doesn’t evaporate, but it’s also not too cold, where it would freeze instead. Unless you’re an astronaut, this big spherical rock, Earth, will be your home for life.
What If Earth Suddenly Doubled in Size?
But what if that home suddenly changed? What if, in a split second, Earth doubled in size? Let’s assume the density remains constant, so the mass of Earth increases as well. How would that change things?
How Gravity Would Change on a Double-Sized Earth
First off, gravity would be very different. Earth would have eight times as much mass, and gravity would be twice as strong. So, if you stepped on a scale, you’d suddenly weigh twice as much as before. Walking would be much harder, and you’d get tired much more easily. After all, you’d feel like you were giving another version of yourself a piggyback ride all day, every day—which would look pretty funny!
Over time, human bones, especially in the legs, would have to become stronger to support this increased weight. Meanwhile, trees would start to collapse, and any new trees that grow in their place might not reach their previous heights.
Impact on Tree Growth and Earth’s Ecosystems
There’s a limit for how tall a tree can grow, usually around 400 feet or so, which is determined by gravity. The taller a tree is, the more energy it takes to transport water from its roots to the top. If a tree gains more energy from photosynthesis than it spends moving water, it’ll keep growing; otherwise, it stops. So, if Earth suddenly got twice as big, trees like the California redwood might not be as impressive.
Would Earth’s Stronger Gravity Affect the Moon?
Luckily, even with Earth’s stronger gravitational pull, it wouldn’t be enough to break the Moon apart. For that to happen, the Moon would need to be within Earth’s Roche limit—the minimum distance the Moon can approach without being torn apart by tidal forces. This happens because the near side of the Moon is pulled in harder than the far side. If the Moon gets close enough, Earth’s gravity would tear it apart, potentially creating a ring around Earth similar to Saturn’s.
Increased Heat and Volcanic Activity on a Bigger Earth
Oh, and the more Earth there is, the more it will heat up. If there are more unstable elements in Earth’s crust and interior, more heat will reach the surface, potentially causing much more volcanic activity. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not live in a world with a constant threat of erupting volcanoes. Oh wait, we’re already living in that reality—looking at you, Yellowstone!
Where Would You Live in the Universe?
Anyway, if you could live anywhere in the universe with no limitations, where would it be and why? If I could, I’d totally live in Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. It’d be pretty dangerous, but I’m an animation, so I can totally handle it!
Make sure to check out Life Noggin to see more videos. As always, I’m Blocko, this has been Life Noggin. Don’t forget to keep on thinking!
Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/33294-what…
http://www.livescience.com/14667-tall…
http://io9.com/5813349/what-is-a-tree…
http://earthsky.org/earth/what-is-the…
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