if a day is actually 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds, then we all could be off by up to years. comments?

Answer 1

You do have something....... sorta. In sixty years time that would equal up to one whole minute(hence that one second loss). So if you do a little math and I do believe my calculations are correct, it would take 3600 years to equal one hour. 60 minutes( one hour) mutiplied by 60 seconds( one minute) equal 3600 seconds per hour. Keep on figuring it equals 86,400 years to make 24 hours or one day. In 31,449,600 years you will have lost one year.

Man my head hurts.

Answer 2

There are actually two different 'days' that are relevant here. The SOLAR dayis 24 hours exactly. It represents the amount of time (on average) that it takes the sun to go between two times passing the vertical.

The SIDEREAL day is 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds. and represents the time it takes for a *star* to go between two passings of the vertical. There is exactly one more sidereal day per year than there are solar days. The extra day is accounted for by the earth going around the sun.

Next, the earth's rotation is slowing gradually, so the 24 hours from 1900 is slightly different than a solar day now. This is why there are occasionally leap seconds added. However, there is currently a debate about whether adding leap seconds is worth it because it tends to mess up computer timing. So those is some technical areas want to do away with the leap second. THose in astronomy want to keep it because it keeps our time and the position of the stars in line.

One reason we use the Gregorian calendar rather than the Julian is that the old Julian calendar started drifting too far away from the seasons. Most of Europe changed in the 1700's, but Russia didn't change until the revolution in 1917. The difference is that the Julian calendar had leap years every four years, while the Gregorian drops the leap years on century marks that are not divisible by 400.

Answer 3

59 Seconds

Answer 4

each significant earthquake impacts our axis. This time, i have heard the enormous choice "3 inches" quoted, and shortening our day through a microsecond or so. at the same time as the Haiti earthquake went off, it had also knocked us round, yet through a lot less. even if, in 2004, the Sumatra quake became effectual sufficient to knock us round 4-5 inches, which had the different effect of Chile -- it lengthened our day through a microsecond or 2. Earth isn't proper, and that is the reason you'll listen geologists and different sorts search for suggestion from with Earth's "wobble." same to a baby's proper toy (you comprehend, the spinning element) that you'll tap including your finger -- it will knock round rather, and also you flick it a second time and it is going to go back to generic, etc. that is in simple terms what occurs, and that is actual organic. I noted someone in the present day terrified that our days were going to get shorter and shorter until eventually there have been no days. That bodily won't be able to ensue. a touch shake and wobble the following and there is thoroughly generic. i do not comprehend in case you're nerve-racking about it, or are in simple terms in touch, yet in simple terms to hide each thing -- easily, do not difficulty about it, that is totally generic.

Answer 5

But a day is NOT 23H 59M 59S long, it IS 24H 00M 00S long. From 00:00:00 to 23:59:59 AND BACK TO 00:00:00.

Answer 6

Actually, we had been off at one time! Pre-historic humans used the sky to keep track of the days. In fact this is the purpose behind many archaeological sites. When people tried to translate this to an actual calender, problems began to arise.

You can read more about it here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar

Answer 7

In order to keep the civil day aligned with the apparent movement of the Sun, positive or negative leap seconds may be inserted

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day

Answer 8

Sometimes, 'leap seconds' are required (see below)

A year adds up to 365.25 days.... every four years we get an extra day, Feb 29, making it a 'leap year'.

This keeps us pretty much in check

Answer 9

they just say its 24 hours so they dont have to say all that but even though we r all off it wouldnt be much...we would only be off about 456 minutes which is only about 19 days out of our whole entire life

Answer 10

absolutely! and a day isn't 24 hours in the first place