Oh, please!... Based on that, that analysis comets and asteroids (we just had a relatively near miss, didn't ya know?) would also have major effects. They might, but we're overly egotistical thinking our orbital launch craft and probes have any real effect. -marc -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Randy Glenn Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:52 PM To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [OT] Earth slowing Somewhat relevant to this discussion is an article that Gmail just linked to as I read this very thread: http://www.cheboygannews.com/articles/2004/08/25/news/opinion/opinion1.t xt Basically, blaming current oddities in weather on NASA launches. On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:39:17 +1200, Russell McMahon wrote: > > For the mass to be sent away, as you send a mass up the space elevator, > > you're very greatly increasing its angular inertia while keeping its > angular > > velocity equal to that of the earth (of course it is slowing down slightly > > as it slows the entire earth during its climb). The angular momentum of > the > > object being lifted is being increased, but the angular momentum of the > > Earth is being decreased by the same amount, so conservation of momentum > > applies to the mass-Earth system. > > > > Then when the mass gets to the top and you separate it from the Earth, it > > takes its greater angular momentum away from the Earth, leaving the Earth > > with a greater loss of angular momentum than the object you've > just.removed > > had when it was on the ground. > > As unintuitive as it may seem, you can remove ALL of the angular momentum of > a body by unravelling a mass on a "string" from it and then releasing it at > just the right moment. The departing body takes all the related energy with > it and the rotating body stops rotating. This fact has been used to > implement despinning systems for satellites. > > If this sounds ludicrous, consider the example of a body approaching a non > rotating mass and being captured by suitable means. Adjust model until it is > essentially the opposite of the original. Then work backwards. > > > RM > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > -- -Randy Glenn Computer Eng. and Mgt. Year IV, McMaster University Chair, McMaster IEEE Student Branch randy.glenn-at-gmail.com - glennrb-at-mcmaster.ca randy.glenn-at-computer.org - randy_glenn-at-ieee.org http://www.randyglenn.ca -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.