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Questions tagged [earth]

Earth is the planet on which we live, the 3rd planet from the Sun. Questions using this tag should be about Earth the planet and not Earth-like planets nor earth, as in dirt or soil.

20 votes
4 answers
14k views

How can a day be exactly 24 hours long? [closed]

The longest solar day of year is approximately 24 hours 0 min 30 seconds (occurs at mid to late December) while the shortest solar day of year is approximately 23 hour 59min 38 seconds. If I average ...
ObsessionWithElectricity's user avatar
20 votes
6 answers
5k views

Would a giant ball on earth roll towards the poles?

The radius of the earth is higher at the equator than at the pole. Would it mean then, that if I put a giant ball at the equator, it would roll up towards the pole? Why, why not?
AlphaLife's user avatar
  • 12.5k
20 votes
1 answer
2k views

If the tidal bulge on the earth speeds the moon up, how does the moon move to a higher orbit?

I understand that the moon causes a tidal bulge on Earth, and this tidal bulge moves slightly ahead of the moon due to Earth's rotation. When reading about why the moon is moving away from the Earth, ...
WillowRook's user avatar
20 votes
5 answers
136k views

Why is Earth's gravity stronger at the poles?

Many sources state that the Earth's gravity is stronger at the poles than the equator for two reasons: The centrifugal "force" cancels out the gravitational force minimally, more so at the equator ...
Tejas Ramdas's user avatar
20 votes
3 answers
1k views

Are the air particles in today's wind on earth (more or less) the same as the air 2/3 billion years ago?

So the air pressure on earth remains relatively constant, right? Is there air gained or lost through transitions of any sort? e.g. plumes going out into space, earth gaining new air particles with ...
williamsandonz's user avatar
20 votes
5 answers
3k views

Does the Moon's core still contain significant heat?

On earth, using earth-sheltering techniques can significantly reduce the temperature fluctuations on a structure. Would the same statement be true as well on the Moon? Does the Moon's core still ...
user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
5k views

How can a full moon be seen south of an observer's location?

I know this seems like a simple question, but I'm trying to debate with a flat earth theorist. I asked him to explain why can the ISS visibly be seen orbiting the Earth with the naked eye, and he put ...
Atominator's user avatar
19 votes
4 answers
73k views

Can the Earth's magnetic field be used to generate electricity?

Since the Earth has a magnetic field, can it, in theory, be run through a conductive metal coil to create electricity?
hmir's user avatar
  • 293
18 votes
7 answers
13k views

Why isn’t the center of the Earth cold? [closed]

If the pressure of the Earth is keeping the inner core solid, keeping it rigid to take up the least space, and temperature is dependent on how much the atoms are moving, why isn’t the inner core cold? ...
ga-jasper's user avatar
  • 229
18 votes
3 answers
3k views

I was told that if the Moon had a retrograde orbit, tides would have a faster rhythm. Why is that?

Would this be because tidal deceleration causing the Earth to spin faster or are there other actions in play that I haven't considered? Would the Earth even spin faster because of the tidal ...
Cupric Carbonate's user avatar
18 votes
2 answers
11k views

If you hold a compass needle vertical does it point down or up differently on which hemisphere you are?

Usually our compass is hold horizontally, and in the northern hemisphere it will point in the direction of to the north of the earth (actually to the South pole of the Earth's 'magnet'). But looking ...
Marijn 's user avatar
  • 3,348
17 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is Earth’s rotation slowing down or speeding up?

Section ‘Slowing down of the Earth’ of the Wikipedia article Leap second has the following paragraphs: A mathematical model of the variations in the length of the solar day was developed by F. R. ...
Géry Ogam's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is the total energy of earth changing with time?

Many years ego, Earth was hot. Over time, it has lost energy and has become colder. Is it now in equilibrium or is its total energy changing?
richard's user avatar
  • 4,194
17 votes
3 answers
4k views

Do mankind and manmade activities/constructions have any effect on the rotation of the Earth?

We walk or ride on our vehicles to our destinations daily. Does our movement have any effect on the rotation of the earth according to Newton's law? What will be the effect if we move all the peoples ...
Deiknymi's user avatar
  • 2,251
17 votes
5 answers
28k views

Does the moon affect the Earth's climate?

So, this morning I was talking to a friend about astronomical observations, and he told me that lately there has only been good weather when there was a full moon in the sky, which was a shame. I ...
Alubeixu's user avatar
  • 282

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