At ground level g is 9.8meter per second square. Suppose the earth started to increase its angular velocity. How long would a day be when the people on the equator were just 'thrown off' why is the expression thrown off is a bad one?

Answer 1

They wont be thrown off...they would keep going in a straight line.

w^2*r=g
2PI/Period=sqrt (r*g)
solve for period. r = radius of Earth, g= 9.8
Period will be in seconds, it might be more meaningful to change it to days (divide by 3600*24)

Answer 2

I agree but wonder about the straight line. There is not enough gravity to hold them down, but there is still a force toward the earth center so I think the departure path would curve.