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Banker
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Homework Statement
Question - Models of global warming predict that large sections of the polar ice caps will melt. Explain what effect this will have on the rotation of the Earth, however slight.
Homework Equations
L = Iw
The Attempt at a Solution
Assuming polar ice caps protrude the earth, if they melt, then their height will diminish and radius will decrease. So then moment of inertia should decrease. To maintain angular momentum, then angular velocity must increase, right?
The answer says the opposite. Inertia will increase as 'more mass moves further from the axis of rotation, as ice caps as close to the axis of rotation.'