If a carbon nanotube was attached to the rotating earth, how long would it need to be before its far end reached the speed of light? What would happen as it approached that speed?
by 
Joe SixPack
ANSWERS: 2
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Here's a thought experiment for you. Build a space elevator (google it if you haven't seen that before). Set up a nanotube factory at the upper end of the elevator, just beyond the geosynchronous point. Generate nanotubing/nanoribbon, and extend it outward. What is the final configuration?
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It would never get very close to the speed of light. The longer the tube the faster it has to go to keep up with Earth's rotation. The faster it moves, the greater its inertia. Inertia will try to keep the tube moving in a straight line. As the tube gets longer, these two forces will get stronger until they exceed the strength of the tube. At that point, the upper portion of the tube will break away from the base. You can see a similar effect when a very tall structure (such as an industrial smokestack) is knocked over. It will behave in this manner for the basically the same reason.
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