2007-02-20 05:08:14 · 6 answers · asked by indianthileep 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The weight of earth is 6.0 x 1024 kg. here is the proof by calculation.
This calculation is done using Newton's Law of Gravity, which formulates the attractive force (gravitational force) that two masses exert on each other:
F=GmM/r2
In Newton's equation, F is the gravitational force, G is a constant of proportionality, M and m are the two masses exerting the forces, and r is the distance between the two objects.
G was calculated by Henry Cavendish in 1798, and was determined to be 6.67 x 10-11 m3/(kg sec2).
Also needed is Newton's second law of motion, F=ma, where F is the force applied to an object, m is the mass of the object, and a is its acceleration due to the force.
Galileo determined that the acceleration due to the force of gravity of Earth was a constant equal to 9.8 m/sec2 near the surface of the Earth.
Lastly, you need to know the radius of the Earth; this was first calculated by the Greek Eratosthenes thousands of years ago (by comparing shadows in wells during the summer solstice about 230 B.C.).
CALCULATING THE MASS OF THE EARTH
1. F = GmM/r2 = ma, where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the Earth, r is the radius of the Earth, and m is the mass of another object (near the surface of the Earth).
2. GM/r2= a (The m's canceled out.) Now solve for M, the mass of the Earth.
3. M = ar2/G, where a=9.8m/sec2, r=6.4 x 10 6m, and G=6.67 x 10-11m3/(kg sec2).
4. M = 9.8 x (6.7 x 106)2/6.7 x 10-11 = 6.0 x 1024 kg
2007-02-20 06:35:10 · answer #1 · answered by Ayaz Ali 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why does everybody want to give the Earth's mass with so much precision. 5.932 or whatever is 6 as far as anybody cares.
If you just want an idea of the Earth's mass, it is about 6 followed by 21 zeroes tonnes
That is
6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tonnes
Or 6 billion trillion tonnes.
Incidentally the whole of the human race weighs just about 300 million tonnes
That is about 20 trillion times less than the mass of the Earth.
Just for those who think there are too many of us.
The following animals weigh more than the human race:
Ants, termites, coral, plankton, bacteria
2007-02-20 06:12:36 · answer #2 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
6 Sextillion 592 quintillion tons.
2007-02-20 07:04:49 · answer #3 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The mass of the Earth is approximately 5.98 Ã1024 kg. It is composed mostly of iron (35.0%), oxygen (28.0%), silicon (17.0%), magnesium (15.7%), nickel (1.5%), calcium (1.4%) and aluminium (1.4%)[8].
2007-02-20 05:59:03 · answer #4 · answered by monalisa three 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Zero...it does, however, have considerable mass.
I generally don't provide answers to easy questions that people are too lazy to look up in Google.
2007-02-20 05:12:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the latest measurements show the true weight is actually 5.972 sextillion metric tons
2007-02-20 05:14:09 · answer #6 · answered by LHayes50 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋