Does the Earth's Mass Change Due to Biological Processes?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the negligible impact of biological processes on the Earth's mass and its orbit around the Sun. Key points include that the mass change due to human and animal waste, as well as the death of organisms, is insignificant compared to the Earth's total mass. The primary contributors to mass change are the accretion of space debris, estimated at 60 tons per day, and the mass-energy conversion processes, which are also minimal. Overall, the mass of the Earth can be considered constant for practical calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²)
  • Basic knowledge of chemical reactions and binding energy
  • Familiarity with astronomical concepts such as accretion and orbital mechanics
  • Awareness of the Earth's mass and its comparative scale
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of accretion on planetary mass in "Astrophysics: Accretion Processes in Cosmic Systems"
  • Study the implications of mass-energy conversion in "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Serway and Jewett
  • Explore the role of solar radiation and cosmic dust in Earth's mass dynamics
  • Investigate the impact of human activities on Earth's mass in "Human Impact on Earth Systems" by Steffen et al.
USEFUL FOR

Astrophysicists, environmental scientists, educators, and anyone interested in the interplay between biological processes and planetary science.

  • #31
Althepump said:
Cutter Ketch,

Yesterday you brought up an interesting point. Mass convert to Energy. But this morning I ask myself " if it's true, why not the Earth convert to energy as well?
As others have said, mass-energy equivalence is a drop in the bucket -- irrelevant for this purpose.

What do you mean by "earth convert to energy"?
 
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  • #32
Mass cannot suddenly disappear. Chemical and nuclear reactions release a tiny fraction of the mass of the involved atoms as energy. Most of the possible reactions happened in the past already.
 
  • #33
Bystander said:
"Does Earth mass get heavier?"
"Heavier" implies "weight," or force. Should we examine the implication? Given that the sun is losing mass at 1.5 million tons per second, the Earth should be losing "weight."

what is your reasoning there ??
 
  • #34
davenn said:
what is your reasoning there ??
Less attractive force between the Earth and the sun.
 
  • #35
Bystander said:
Less attractive force between the Earth and the sun.
Ah. I see what he did there.

The Earth's weight is determined by the Sun's gravity. Sun's mass is shrinking, so Earth's weight is shrinking
 
  • #36
DaveC426913 said:
Ah. I see what he did there.

The Earth's weight is determined by the Sun's gravity. Sun's mass is shrinking, so Earth's weight is shrinking
But since the Earth is following a free-fall trajectory, it is technically weightless.
 
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  • #37
Janus said:
a free-fall trajectory,
An expanding/growing free-fall trajectory; i.e., the force exerted by the sun is decreasing, so, technically less than weightless.
 
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  • #38
Bystander said:
An expanding/growing free-fall trajectory; i.e., the force exerted by the sun is decreasing, so, technically less than weightless.

Oohhh! I like that. It's drifting up. It must be less than weightless! Ok, I don't think that's going in the textbooks anytime soon, but it's funny.
 
  • #39
Bystander said:
Less attractive force between the Earth and the sun.

DaveC426913 said:
The Earth's weight is determined by the Sun's gravity. Sun's mass is shrinking, so Earth's weight is shrinking

That mite affect the weight of the Earth but it doesn't affect the mass of the earth

and since the OP is talking about the MASS of the Earth ... it's weight in any gravity field is irrelevant
particularly in an orbit

hence Janus's response
Janus said:
But since the Earth is following a free-fall trajectory, it is technically weightless.
 
  • #40
As per my knowledge, having more people or trees doesn't add any mass to the planet. Humans and things are done with the matter that is already on the planet. It's just been transformed.
 

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