Does our planet weigh more now than in the past?

Answer 1

While we have sent several tons worth of satellites and other spacecraft off the Earth and reduced it's mass, tiny particles (micro-meteorites) are falling continuously on us at an estimated rate of 10,000 tons daily. This amounts to about 4 ozs. per square mile per year.

Answer 2

Whether we build things or eat stuff or whatever, the mass of the earth isn't going to change. The only thing would change the mass is if matter comes to the earth from outter space or if it leaves the earth. I believe there is space dust or thousands of tiny meteorites that land on earth every day.

-To prove this, take a strong magnet and run it along your home's rain gutter. The little particles that stick to it are likely space dust.

In the last few decades, humans have been putting a lot of objects in outer space and have created considerable 'space junk'.

I believe the space dust outweighs the space junk. If the earth is heavier, it's only slightly. If you were to look at it by percentage, it's probably around 1x10^-25% greater in mass than say 10'000 years ago

Answer 3

Everything seems to weigh more now than it used to. Estimates are difficult, but it's likely that at least 50,000 tons of material arrives from space every year. On the other hand, the Sun definitely weighs less than it used to, because of all the energy it keeps giving off (and energy, as Einstein told us, equates to mass).

Answer 4

Certainly it does.

Most estimates of the rate at which it gathers up interplanetary dust and meteoritic fragments have been in the range from 10 to 20 thousand tons per year, but a few experts have estimated 50 to 100 thousand tons per year.

Answer 5

Minor additions to Earth's mass have been occurring since it formed due to accumulation of meteorites. Some minuscule loss has occurred as well, since humans have been launching rockets and placing satellites into orbit for just over 50 years. The gain outdoes the loss, though.

Answer 6

NO. Matter can neither be created nor destroyed. But people are getting fatter and weigh more if thats what you mean. But if you could put the planet on a weighing scale, it would be just the same.

Except maybe for materials that people sent into space, like satellites and other sh1t.

Answer 7

Well,not from the beginning of the earth.You have to deduct the impacted that formed our moon first.Then add the tons of material coming from space that impact the earths surface.So,they say the earth is 4.6 billion years old now.Now you have quite the mathematics problem to compute.

Answer 8

yes and no, depends how you look at it
no, since all of the extra weight that humans are puting on is being equlized by the removal of other weight. see, if we build a skyscraper, we use metal, which is removed from the earth and concreat, also removed from the earth. but because of the occasional small meteors that impact the earth it is guarenteed that it weighs a tad bit more. but remember weight is only used to measure things on the earth, MASS IS THE MORE IMPORTANT THING!

Answer 9

I would say its very hard to tell. We people haven't added to the weight because we have always been here, just not in human form. Conservation of mass says you can't have mass come from nothing. The only way the weight would have changed is from things coming onto earth from space (asteroids, meteors), and things leaving the earth (space shuttles).

Buildings and such haven't added anything because the raw materials for the buildings has always been here.

Answer 10

No...for the time being. "The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form. The total quantity of matter and energy available in the universe is a fixed amount and never any more or less. Law of Conservation of Matter: During an ordinary chemical change, there is no detectable increase or decrease in the quantity of matter."