If the mass of the Earth is increasing which it is, then would the spin also quicken?

Question

but also only very slightly?

And because the extra mass would perhaps cause its velocity to spin faster? gradually and slightly of course.

I dunno just a thought.

Answer 1

NO, its not increasing... dumb

Answer 2

If the earth would gain on mass, the rotational momentum would still be the same. So if the mass if higher, the velocity will drop. So the spin would not quicken but drop in speed.

But, like you said: Only very slightly. The mass is increasing on a very very very slow rate.

Answer 3

The Earth's spin is slightly decreasing, since its rotational energy stays the same but the mass increases. But this effect is very very small compared to the Moon's gravity slowing it down, due to tidal drag.

Which is a good thing. If the Earth didn't have the moon and we still had 6hour days, we would have constant winds of 400mph.

By the way the Earth stopped the rotation of the moon, so that it always shows us the same side. (We never see the backside of the moon)

Answer 4

If the mass of the Earth were increasing, which it -isn't-, then the spin would slow.

Rotational momentum is conserved and is equal to the product of moment of inertia (partially dependant on mass) and rotational velocity.

Answer 5

hmmm..i would think slower but thats just my initial thought is it would slow down

Answer 6

The Earth's rate of spin is actually slowing, due to tidal drag caused by the Moon's gravity. When the Earth was newly formed, each day was about six hours long. Check out the Wikipedia article on 'tidal acceleration' for a more thorough explanation of the factors affecting the Earth's rate of rotation.

Answer 7

i would think the extra mass would make it spin slower... right?

Answer 8

That depends on the angular velocity of the added mass. If it is greater than earth's, earth will spin faster, and if less, it will spin slower, but there are a lot of other factors so it will not be this cut and dry.

Answer 9

I have bno clue. y? u feelin kinda dizzy?

Answer 10

It would, if this were the only factor involved, but tidal forces of the Moon, Sun, and other planets, also cause the Earth to slow down, so a large amount of increase would have to happen, and at present it is a mere 12 tons a day.. that is just a mote, to a mass the size of the Earth, and no increase in velocity is noticeable, or measurable....

Answer 11

that is a  very nice educated question and my answer is : i think the more mass the earth has the slower it gets due to friction. people say around 4.6 billion years ago the earth was spinning three times as fast as now. but i dont think the earths mass is increasing maybe by a little. because most of the resources we get like iron and diamonds and cement are already found in the earth so we just take it and remodel it but the earths mass doesnt increase that way. i think the only way the earths mass increases is by humans, the more humans the more mass. one person doesnt make a difference but say a billion and each weighing in at 75 kilograms that would be 75 billion kilograms.  

Answer 12

Smaller diameter objects spin at higher RPMs...

Have you ever seen a "fat" figure skater spin at high RPMs? LOL!

Try spinning a marble, billiard ball, and a basketball...You'll see!

Answer 13

The mass on earth is increasing very very very very slowly. It's only from things entering out atmosphere, like shooting stars, passing gas (HA!).

I don't think the spin would quicken. It would slow down. Anything that you are adding to the planet is going to create a type of friction so that it can match speed with the surface. Thing of spinning in an office chair and having your buddy throw a medicine ball in your lap.

Sorry I can't give you any official scientific proofs, but consider this. Look at the moon. You will always see the same face. As it orbits around earth, it rotates so that the same side is always facing us. Imagine taping a ball to a string and swinging it around, the same side will always face you. This is because when 2 planetary bodies are bound magnetically, they will slowly (over billions of years) reach an equilibrium where the heaviest parts of each is facing eachother. Earth is still spinning relative to the moon, and that's what causes tides. But the sloshing of our water is slowing us down.

There's also the Sun to consider, our rotation is affected by that too.  

Answer 14

no the earth spins on its axis which really has no weight. And if your talking about it going around the sun, no. Because the sun has the same constant gravitational pull.