The standards for the kilogram are drifting apart. Why is this happening?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_re_eu/shrinking_kilogram
2007-09-13 00:27:34 · 3 answers · asked by Sopwith 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It is dificult to determine if the kilogram metal sample radiated mass out of its atoms. The 50 microgram loss is quite a bit of mass loss.
The Sample should have gained mass rather than lose. The mass gained by the sample should be in direct proportion to the mass gained by the earth.
Theoretically the earth absorbs mass radiation froms the sun and the cosmo. This mass aborbed by the earth is no small quantity it can reach tons and tons with time.
However the Earth's Mass is aprox 5.987 x10^24 kilograms, and the percent increase mass received by the atoms of the earth is very small compared to the whole volume of the Earth.
Concerning the kilogram standard =According to Measurement theory no two measurement of the same sample is ever the same.
In the same way it is impossible to measure the speed of light accurately no matter how many measurements are made; since it is impossible to define a perfect vaccuum.(note Heisenberg's Uncertaintyb Principle.)
2007-09-13 01:08:04 · answer #1 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The article says it all - they don't know.
Maybe someone touched one of them - the difference is, as it says, the mass of a fingerprint.
2007-09-13 07:43:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
we are getting fatter?
2007-09-13 07:35:16 · answer #3 · answered by babyblues_752001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋