Weight of the earth getting lighter?

bobclean | 19:47 Wed 14th Jan 2009 | Science

21 Answers

As we burn millions and millions of tons of oil, does this mean that the planet is getting lighter? At first glance, this seems silly, but after thinking about it, we are converting the mass of oil into gases and heat, so are we losing mass and weight? Any thoughts?

Astronomy in the Cayman Islands

Non-competative Inhibition

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Rev. Green

BillyBB is correct, but a certain amount of energy corresponds to a minute, fixed amount of mass irrespective of how the energy is generated.

So if a spring releases the same amount of energy as burning acetylene, then the spring will lose some mass and this loss in mass will be the same as the difference in mass between the acetylene and its combustion products,

Sorry, jno, I don't understand your question. Are you comparing the present Earth with the pre-historic Earth when there were no people?

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