What would happen to our lives if the Earth changed its size?

Is the size of the Earth fixed? Can we change its size? Let's start an interesting thought experiment: suppose we are in another parallel world, where everything is the same as in the original world, except that the size of objects can be changed at will. So, if the size of the Earth changes, how will our lives change?

Someone once suggested that if the earth doubled in size, the land area would also increase, and people might be able to build wider blocks and houses, thus saying goodbye to the crowded and narrow modern cities. This sounds like a good idea, but is it really as good as we imagine?

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In fact, as the diameter of the earth doubles, the gravity it generates will also increase significantly, and humans will face great challenges in surviving in a stronger gravity environment! By then, it will be difficult for people to do any movement, and their legs will feel like they are filled with lead when they walk; at the same time, because the heart needs to overcome gravity and pump blood to the brain, humans are likely to be shorter and heavier than they are now, and may even need to spend their lives lying down!

As for the moon, it will be pulled into a new orbit very close to the earth. The moon's impact on the earth's tides will also undergo earth-shaking changes. The huge waves caused by the tides will sweep the world, and many coastal cities and islands will be hit by huge waves and will no longer be suitable for living!

As the pull of the Earth's gravity increases, the atmosphere will get closer to the surface, and the density of oxygen will increase. With each breath you take in, you'll inhale more oxygen molecules. This may sound like a good thing, but oxygen is chemically reactive, and the human body can only handle a certain amount. Too much can cause epilepsy and breathing problems, and in severe cases, it can cause coma or death!

So, what would happen if the Earth shrunk?

When the Earth's density remains the same and its diameter is halved, its gravity will also be halved. Less gravity means people can jump higher and fall slower. In martial arts dramas, the scenes of heroes flying over eaves and walls and floating on water with light skills may all become reality.

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This sounds good, as the Earth shrinks, it will be easier for us to do things. However, the land area of ​​the Earth will also decrease, and humans will face a serious problem of land resource scarcity.

If the Earth becomes smaller, its pull on the Moon will weaken as the distance increases, and the Moon will likely gradually move away from the Earth or even disappear completely. Once we lose the Moon, we will not only face the darkness of the night.

Without the moon, the angle of the Earth's rotation axis will become unstable. The poles will not be always cold as they are now, and the equatorial region will not be always warm. The Earth will not have a long-term stable climate, and the ice age will sweep the world with a cycle of thousands of years!

It can be seen that if the earth becomes bigger, it will not bring us a more spacious and comfortable living environment; if it becomes smaller, the earth cannot become a realistic "mini" home. The current size of the earth is just right for us. It can have a stable earth-moon system, regular changes of seasons, and a nature that can nurture life. This is our beautiful home!

Source: CCTV Science and Education

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