How much does all that weigh, then?
The answer to that question is not singular.
Earth has multiple weights, much as humans weigh significantly less on the moon than on Earth.
The gravitational pull that Earth experiences determines its weight, which can range from trillions of pounds to nothing at all.
However, the resistance of Earth to move against an applied force is its mass, which has been determined by scientists over hundreds of years.
The mass of Earth is 5.9722×1024 kilograms, or approximately 13.1 septillion pounds, according to NASA.
This corresponds to about 13 quadrillion of the weight of the Khafre pyramid in Egypt, which is equivalent to about 10 billion pounds (4 point 8 billion kilograms).
The addition of space dust and gases escaping from our atmosphere cause slight variations in Earth’s mass, but these minute changes won’t have an impact on the planet for billions of years.
However, there is still disagreement among physicists worldwide regarding the decimals, and arriving at that sum has not been a simple process.
Scientists have to triangulate Earth’s mass using other measurable objects because it is impossible to place Earth on a scale.
Related: How can we determine the age of the Earth?
The first element was the universal gravitational law developed by Isaac Newton, according to Stephan Schlamminger, a metrologist at the U. S. As stated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to Live Science.
Any two objects will always be subject to some force because everything with mass is also subject to gravitational force.
The gravitational force between two objects (F) can be calculated using Newton’s law of universal gravitation by multiplying their respective masses (m₁ and m₂), dividing by the square of their distances from each other’s centers (r²), and then multiplying the result by the gravitational constant (G), also called the intrinsic strength of gravity (F=G((m₁*m₂)/r²).
By measuring the planet’s gravitational pull on an object on Earth’s surface, scientists could have theoretically calculated Earth’s mass using this equation.
However, there was an issue: no one could come up with a number for G. Subsequently, in 1797, physicist Henry Cavendish initiated the “Cavendish experiments.”. ****.
Cavendish estimated the gravitational force between the two sets by measuring the angle on a device known as a torsion balance, which was composed of two rotating rods with lead spheres attached to them. The angle changed as the smaller spheres were drawn to the larger ones.
John West, a physiologist at the University of California, San Diego, told Live Science that “his work was very original and made a big impact at the time.”.
Cavendish determined G = 6.74×10−11 m3 kg–1 s−2 based on the mass and separation between the spheres.
G is currently listed by the International Science Council’s Committee on Data at 6.67430 x 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2, which is only a few decimal places different from Cavendish’s original value.
Since then, scientists have used G to determine the mass of Earth using other known masses, arriving at the current estimate of 13 point 1 septillion pounds.
Cavendish’s experiment was conducted more than 200 years ago, but his torsion balance method is still in use today, according to West.
Torsion balances and Newton’s equation are useful instruments, but Schlamminger stressed that human error can still affect the measurements they provide.
G has been measured dozens of times by various scientists in the centuries since Cavendish’s experiments, and each has produced a marginally different conclusion.
Even though the differences in the numbers are only in thousandths of decimal places, they are significant enough to alter the calculation of Earth’s mass and to cause concern for the scientists who take measurements.
Schlamminger remarked, “For us, there’s this paper cut in our skin that we have to fix.”.
Schlamminger is not necessarily concerned about the discrepancy in that number, despite the frustrations surrounding G.
“There are moments when we can use the gaps in the universe to our advantage and learn more about science,” the speaker stated.
“The universe might be giving us a break, and we don’t want to miss that chance. “.”.
Our planet is home to millions of different species of life as well as hard rocks, minerals, and various man-made and natural structures.
There’s no one answer to the question of how much all of that weighs. Earth is a multi-weight planet, much as humans weigh significantly less there than they do on Earth. Earth’s weight is determined by the gravitational force acting upon it; therefore, its weight could be trillions of pounds or zero.
But Earth’s mass—its resistance to motion in the face of an applied force—is what scientists have been studying for centuries. As per NASA, the mass of Earth is approximately 13 point 1 septillion pounds, or 5 point9722×1024 kg. This is equivalent to about 13 quadrillion of the weight of the Khafre pyramid in Egypt, which is estimated to be around 10 billion pounds (4 point eight billion kilograms). Gases seeping out of our atmosphere and the addition of space dust cause slight variations in Earth’s mass, but these minute shifts won’t have an impact on the planet for billions of years.
However, there is still disagreement among physicists worldwide regarding the decimals, and arriving at that sum has not been a simple process. Scientists had to use other measurable objects to triangulate the mass of Earth because it is impossible to place it on a scale.
Similar: What is the method by which the age of the Earth is determined?
Initially, Stephan Schlamminger, a metrologist at the U.S., contributed the law of universal gravitation by Isaac Newton. S. National Institute of Standards and Technology stated to Live Science. There is always a force between any two objects because everything that has mass also has a gravitational force.
Newton’s law of universal gravitation states that the gravitational force (F) between two objects can be calculated as follows: multiply the masses (m₁ and m₂) of the objects, divide that result by the squared distance (r²) between their centers, and then multiply the result by the gravitational constant (G), also called the intrinsic strength of gravity (F=G((m₁*m₂)/r²).
By measuring the gravitational pull of the planet on an object on Earth’s surface, scientists could have theoretically calculated Earth’s mass using this equation. However, there was a problem: G’s number remained elusive to all.
Next came the “Cavendish experiments,” named after physicist Henry Cavendish, who started them in 1797. Cavendish’s method of measuring the gravitational force between the two sets was based on the angle on a device known as a torsion balance, which consisted of two revolving rods with lead spheres attached to them. The angle varied as the smaller spheres were drawn to the larger ones.
University of California, San Diego physiologist John West told Live Science, “His work was very original and made a big impact at the time.”.
Using the mass and separation between the spheres as inputs, Cavendish computed G = 6.74×10−11 m3 kg–1 s2. G is now listed by the International Science Council’s Committee on Data at 6.67430 x 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2, which is only a few decimal places different from Cavendish’s original estimate. Using other known-mass objects and G, scientists have since computed Earth’s mass and arrived at the current value of 13.01 trillion pounds.
Cavendish’s experiment dates back more than two centuries, but his torsion balance method is still in use today, according to West. Schlamminger did stress that while the torsion balance and Newton’s equation are useful instruments, human error can still affect the measurements they provide. Many scientists have measured G dozens of times in the centuries since Cavendish’s experiments, and each has produced a marginally different result. Although there are only thousandths of decimal places of difference between the numbers, it’s enough to alter the calculation of Earth’s mass and to annoy the scientists who take measurements.
According to Schlamminger, “we have to fix this paper cut in our skin.”.
Schlamminger believes that the difference in that figure isn’t always a bad thing, despite the frustrations surrounding G.
“There are moments when we can use the gaps in the universe to our advantage and learn more about science,” the speaker stated. We don’t want to miss this chance to seize whatever crack the universe might be throwing at us. “.
