How Much Space Material is Needed to Alter Earth's Gravity?

[mapper]

Apparently we get tons and tons of material dumped yearly onto our planet from space. Just wondering how much would be necessary to affect Earth's gravity so we can see a measurable change and how long that could take? How would you go about figuring/calculating this? Would it be millions of years or longer?

So say a 50 kilometer object were to pound into the earth, although we would surely all perish would something like this effect Earth's gravity to the point of being measurable?

 

[dextercioby]

Let's say it "sticks" to the Earth,so that total mass is M_{initial,Earth}+M_{object}.Compute the mass of this object,as to produce a variation of "<g>" to let's say 6-th decimal.Assume mean radius to be the same b4 & after the impact.

Daniel.

 

[sir-pinski]

It is true that Earth receives a significant amount of material from space every year, in the form of meteoroids and other debris. However, the amount of material needed to have a measurable impact on Earth's gravity is incredibly large and would likely take millions or even billions of years to accumulate.

To calculate the potential change in Earth's gravity, we would need to know the mass and velocity of the object colliding with Earth. Using this information, we could apply the law of conservation of momentum to determine the change in Earth's velocity and therefore its gravitational pull.

In the scenario you mentioned, a 50 kilometer object colliding with Earth would certainly have a significant impact and could potentially alter Earth's gravity. However, it is important to note that the effect would likely be minimal and would not be measurable by humans. The Earth is an incredibly massive object, with a gravitational pull that is already very strong. It would take a much larger and more powerful force to significantly alter its gravity.

In summary, while it is possible for a large object colliding with Earth to affect its gravity, the amount of material needed for a measurable change is immense and would likely take an incredibly long time to accumulate. It is also important to consider the laws of physics and the immense size and mass of Earth when calculating the potential impact of such events.