Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Earth's Rotation Decrease 
Name: Melissa
Status: Student
Age: 19
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Why is the earth's rotational speed decreasing?


Replies:
This is due to what is called tidal friction. It is the reason that the moon has (over billions of years) slowed to one revolution for one rotation and the reason for the very slow rotation of Mercury. The earth is slowing... but very little because of the greater distance from the sun and the greater mass of the earth than the other two examples.

Larry Krengel


Click here to return to the Environmental and Earth Science Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory