this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2024
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xkcd

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For decades I've been working off the accumulated rotation from one long afternoon on a merry-go-round when I was eight.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (9 children)

If every human on the planet just started running in the same direction, could we collectively affect the rotation of the planet like running on a ball? ๐Ÿค”

[โ€“] marcos 14 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Yes, we would affect the Earth's rotation. It's just by a ridiculously small amount that nobody would ever be able to measure.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (7 children)

Now I am wondering how many humans would it take to be measurable and significant?

[โ€“] MySkinIsFallingOff 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Whatever amount of people it'd take, the effect we'd make, would cancel at break.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was going to say a similar thing, how are you going to get gone without canceling it out.

But also if you walked away from the equator then walked until you were directly north/ south of your home before walking home, some effect would remain.

[โ€“] MySkinIsFallingOff 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't believe that to be correct, but I'm to stupid to refute you. So I'll take it as facts. Thank you for enlightening me.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It's because your return journey is closer to the axis of the earth so your action has less torque.

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