General Physics> rotational-motion...

if earth were to shrink suddenly, what would happen to the length of the day?

ajeet singh , 12 Years ago

Grade 11

5 Answers

mayank tanwar

Last Activity: 12 Years ago

IF EARTH WERE TO SHRINK SUDDENLY THEN ITS MOMENT OF INERTIA WILL DECREASE.

BY CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM ANGULAR VELOCITY WILL INCREASE

THEREFORE LENGTH OF THE DAY WILL DECREASE

G Ashwin -

Last Activity: 12 Years ago

it depends on the time taken to rotate on its axis and i don''t think that its mass would affect the length of the day unless its rotating speed changes

vinay kant

Last Activity: 12 Years ago

FROM CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM

AS NO EXTERNAL TORQUE IS ACTING

I W=CONSTANT WHERE W=ANGULAR VELOCITY

AS EARTH SHRINKS ITS MOMENT OF INNERTIA ABOUT ITS AXIS DECREASES THUS ITS ANGULAR VELOCITY INCRESES AND TIME PERIOD OF ROTATION ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS DECREASE

THEREFOR LENGTH DAYS BECOME SHORTER

Nikhil Yadav

Last Activity: 8 Years ago

If earth were to shrink keeping its mass same then naturally it`s size is going to decrease , it means , it`s radius will also decrease hence its rotation speed will increase and duration of day will decrease

Rishi Sharma

Last Activity: 5 Years ago

Dear Student,
Please find below the solution to your problem.

If the earth were to shrink from its original size than the moment of inertia will decrease.
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular velocity will increase to to its small size and thus the length of the day will decrease.

Thanks and Regards