I was watching When Worlds Collide the other day, and got to wondering - what would I, poor shlub left behind on the mountain, actually see/feel/experience as the worlds collided? How long would the end take?
My guess is that you’d be smothered by poisonous gasses emitted as part of the volcanic activity. Big object nearby = lots of tectonic plate shifting = volcanic activity.
You specified “standing on a mountaintop”, which eliminated my first thought, which was that you’d be drowned by a tidal wave (hey, a real tidal wave!).
So, in other words, it would not be a good day. 
Since we all have to die one day I think it would be interesting to live through that…or not live…hmmm, you know what I mean.
There’d probably be one heck of an awesome view in the sky before the end.
Man… you are blowing my mind. There; my mind has been blown. Thank you.
What would happen to the atmosphere? With such enormous tidal forces coming into play, would the atmosphere collect at the two ends of the Earth along the line between the centers of gravity of the two bodies? If you were on a mountain top at the midway point (where I guess you’d have the best view of the big show) you might find yourself without air, or else picked up and carried along by super-hurricane-force winds. This would be worth a master’s thesis at least; has anybody really crunched all the numbers?
When Worlds Collide was a favorite book of mine in my childhood (though the sequel, After Worlds Collide, isn’t as good). The movie was pretty good, but I’d like to see it remade with modern special effects. Have to be a really intelligent director; if Michael Bay got hired for the job I would hunt him down and put a bullet through his useless brain.
When Worlds Collide - From the producers of When Animals Attack. Coming soon on FOX!
- Adam
Now this is what it’s like when worlds collide…
Now this is whats it’s like…
Now this is what it’s like when worlds collide…
Now this is whats it’s like…
What is it really that’s going on here?
You’ve got the system for total control!
Now is there anybody out there?
Now watch us suffer, cause we can’t go!
What is it really that is in your head?
What little life that you had just died!
I’m gonna be the one that’s takin’ over!
Now this is what it’s like when worlds collide…
Are you ready to go?
Cause I’m ready to go!
What you gonna do baby, baby!?
Are you going with me?
Cause I’m going with you!
That’s the end of all time!
What is it really that motivates you?
The need to fly or this fear to stop?
I’ll go along but then you realize…
When we get there I say 9 of 10 drops!
Now who’s the light and who’s the devil?
You can’t decide so I’ll be your guide!
And one by one they will be hand chosen!
Now this is what it’s like when worlds collide…
Are you ready to go?
Cause I’m ready to go!
What you gonna do baby,baby!?
Are you going with me?
Cause I’m going
sorry. i had to.
Wait, are you sure he’s got a brain?