Since the earth is suspended in space, it cannot be put on a scale and weighed. But scientists can estimate its total weight by estimating the weight of each of its parts, the crust, or solid rock, the mantle, also solid rock, and the core, a liquid, because of the great heat at the center.
These add up to an estimated 6.6 sextillion tons! To see what that number looks like, we’d have to write two 6s, followed by twenty Os, or 6,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons!
The earth’s weight increases by 100,000 pounds each year from dust and meteoric material falling from the sky, from the residue of burning fuel, and from salt from the ocean spray!
6 Comments
I would think that earth’s atmosphere should also be included in the estimate. Although the atmosphere is a small part of the total weight, it is a part of the planet and it is simple enough to estimate. Also, I don’t see how residue of burning fuel and salt from ocean spray would increase the weight of the earth…..both of those things originate from earth and would be included in the original estimate.
I remember it being 6 sextillion, 570 quantillion tons when I was in grammer school. Now it seems that it has been updated to 6 sextillion, 585 quintillion tons.
It appears, gentlemen and ladies, that we have cumulatively gained 15 quintillion tons.
Personally, I charge McDonalds for this aggregate weight gain.
i think your wrong about mcdonalds because i am a child ho love mcdonalds and i am only 75 pounds for age 9.
i just recently found out about this weight issue. didnt know sextillion was a mesurement….crazy
I think the earth weight increses along with the human beings activities ? but not sure about those activities can any ?
I also agree with this comment. I would say, Earth weight Decreases/increases only if something goes out from this planet or comes in to this planet.