Friday, October 05, 2007
Did the Earth lose weight?
Scientists are now saying the Earth is a little lighter than we thought. The calculated weight is 5.978 sextillion metric tons, or 5,978 followed by 18 zeros. But the latest measurements show the true weight is actually 5.972 sextillion metric tons. So, does this mean the Earth is losing weight?
Actually, the answer is no. The truth is, one of the constants used to calculate the weight of the Earth was off. The force of gravity, shown as the capital letter G, is a little tricky to measure. Scientists have come up with many different numbers, and each one gives us a different number for the Earth's weight.
Scientists at the University of Washington found a more precise way to measure G. And now that they have this more exact measurement, they have found the real weight of the Earth - they think. Who knows, maybe the Earth is losing weight!
More: El peso de los Planetas ¶ 2:55 AM
Scientists are now saying the Earth is a little lighter than we thought. The calculated weight is 5.978 sextillion metric tons, or 5,978 followed by 18 zeros. But the latest measurements show the true weight is actually 5.972 sextillion metric tons. So, does this mean the Earth is losing weight?
Actually, the answer is no. The truth is, one of the constants used to calculate the weight of the Earth was off. The force of gravity, shown as the capital letter G, is a little tricky to measure. Scientists have come up with many different numbers, and each one gives us a different number for the Earth's weight.
Scientists at the University of Washington found a more precise way to measure G. And now that they have this more exact measurement, they have found the real weight of the Earth - they think. Who knows, maybe the Earth is losing weight!
More: El peso de los Planetas ¶ 2:55 AM
