Idle thought

The earthquake today sped up the Earth’s rotation by 1.6 microseconds.

Which would mean, I believe, that gravity increased.

And that makes us all a tiny bit heavier. (Also the day a tiny bit shorter.)

Update: An 8.9 earthquake is equal in force to 22 billion metric tons of TNT.

3 thoughts on “Idle thought”

  1. Wouldn’t the speeded up rotation create extra centrifugal force tending to oppose gravity?

  2. Damned if I know. I think you are confusing the whimsy and wit halves of this blog with the wisdom half.

  3. The real question is whether or not Congress will add the extra 1,6 microseconds during the middle of the day, when most people are working, thus benefiting corporate interests, or in the middle of the night, allowing most people to get more much-needed sleep, thus benefiting the health of the middle class.

    My money’s on mid-day.

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