80 million barrels of oil is converted to energy every year, which decreases mass of earth,and hence gravity?

Answer 1

As other people have pointed out, the oil is converted into combustion products (carbon dioxide, water, and assorted partial combustion products), all of which stick around in the atmosphere and therefore remain part of the Earth's mass. The energy comes from the binding energy of the hydrocarbon molecules. There is some mass associated with this energy, but it's minuscule.

Secondly, even if the mass all that oil were destroyed, the change in Earth's overall mass would be insignificant.

Answer 2

First of all, 80 million barrels is a very low estimate...even if you just consider the United States as the only user of oil...so much more is used.

Secondlly, you can not destroy matter...yes, oil is burned (not converted) to produce energy, but for the earth to lose mass as a result, the physical atoms and subatomic particles that make up the oil would have to be destroyed. They are still there, just in forms of Carbon Monoxide and other greenhouse gases and pollutants. Gravity won't decrease unless there is an actual loss of mass...which isn't happening here. Now, if we got smacked by a large asteroid and the pieces of the earth were blown into interplanetary space along with all of the mass of the asteroid performing the impact, then yes, the earth would lose mass and therefore gravity.

Clear Skies!

Answer 3

No, when you burn oil mass is conserved. So if weigh the oil before you burn it and you weigh the co2 and everything else after wards the masses will be equal. Also even if you were to convert all the mass into energy, the energy still exerts a force equal to the equivalent mass so gravity will not decrease.

Answer 4

The oil isn't converted into energy per se. The elements that make up the various oil molecules (hydrocarbons of various sorts) are made to react with oxygen (in other words, burned), and new compounds are formed, most notably carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O). The mass of Earth stays exactly the same.

Answer 5

to those who answered. as to gases being formed, the gases would have to be attracted BY earth's gravity in order to stay in our atmosphere. sure enough every matter exerts gravity, but the gravity exerted by the gases would be insignificant compared to that exerted by a large body (earth), i.e you're not answering the question. and to the person who asked this question, it would be a long answer. oils are being converted to energy but there are many other elements to take into consideration which may replace the erm 'loss in mass'. oh why am i getting into this.

Answer 6

80 million barrels of oil is not converted into energy.the oil itself becomes the exhaust and other things during combustion but it doesn't turn into energy.therefor,the mass of the of the earth doesn't change and neither does gravity. but i am not sure so you may be right.good thinking,you're the first person to stump me

Answer 7

Ah, but the products of combustion, CO2 and H2O are still hanging around the earth - they have not disappeared, so the mass of the earth and its atmosphere remain the same.

Answer 8

Your premise is in error.

Start with nonsense and you're sure to reach a nonsense conclusion.