Earth Enlarged to Uranus' Size: Survival and Existence of Human Life

Imagine the Earth growing to a towering size similar to that of Uranus, an immense planet with a radius of approximately 25,362 kilometers (15,759 miles). If the Earth were to undergo such a drastic change, keeping its density and composition intact, the resulting environment would be hostile and essentially unlivable for humans.

According to calculations, the Earth would need to be more than 63 times its current mass to achieve an expansion to Uranus' size. This would imply a corresponding increase in both radius and surface gravitational acceleration to 39.08 m/s2, or around 3.98 g. Such conditions would present a myriad of challenges for human survival.

Atmospheric Changes

Atmospheric conditions would dramatically shift as well. Atmospheric pressure is directly influenced by gravity, making it four times denser than the current atmosphere on Earth. The denser air could not be tolerated without the aid of supportive exoskeletons to augment muscle movement and breathing masks to facilitate respiration. The primary air composition would likely become toxic for human beings.

Geological and Biological Impacts

The intensification of plate tectonics would lead to rampant volcanic activity. Continuous emissions of carbon compounds, dust particles, and ash would alter the atmospheric composition, initiating a mass extinction event without the ecosystems able to adapt.

Orbital Dynamics and Catastrophe

Perhaps the most catastrophic consequence would be the impact on Earth's moon. Due to the significantly increased gravitational pull of the now larger Earth, the Moon's orbital period would shrink to just 3 days and 11 hours. However, it's more probable that the Moon's orbit would decay, drawing ever closer to the Earth. The Moon would eventually approach within the Roche limit, approximately 37,735 km (23,448 miles) from the Earth's center, at which point it would be torn apart by gravitational forces. The resulting debris would form an extensive ring system around the Earth, leading to a period of grand impacts that would devastate almost all life on the planet.

Conclusion

The scenario of the Earth expanding to approximately the size of Uranus presents a grim outlook for human survival. The necessary modifications, such as exoskeletons and breathing masks, as well as the environmental and orbital catastrophes, make it clear that human life as we know it would not be sustainable. The question of whether humans could live on a planet expanded to this size remains firmly in the realm of speculations and scientific impossibilities.