The Slowing Earth The Earth's rate of rotation is constantly decreasing, causing the day to increase in duration. In the year 2006 the Earth took about 0.840 s longer to complete 365 revolutions than it did in the year 1906. Required:
What was the average angular acceleration of the earth during this time?

The average angular acceleration of the Earth is; α  = 6.152 X 10⁻²⁰ rad/s²

Explanation:

We are given;

The period of 365 revolutions of Earth in 2006, T₁ = 365 days, 0.840 sec

Converting to seconds, we have;

T₁ = (365 × 24 × 60 × 60) + 0.84

T₁ = (3.1536 x 10⁷) + 0.840

T₁ = 31536000.84 s

Now, the period of 365 rotation of Earth in 2006 is; T₀ = 365 days

Converting to seconds, we have;

T₀ = 31536000 s

Hence, time period of one rotation in the year 2006 is;

Tₐ = 31536000.84/365

Tₐ = 86400.0023 s

The time period of rotation is given by the formula;

Tₐ = 2π/ωₐ

Making ωₐ the subject;

ωₐ = 2π/Tₐ

Plugging in the relevant values;

ωₐ = 2π/ 365.046306        

ωₐ = 7.272205023 x 10⁻⁵ rad/s

Therefore, the time period of one rotation in the year 1906 is;

Tₓ = 31536000/365

Tₓ = 86400 s

Time period of rotation,

Tₓ = 2π /ωₓ

ωₓ = 2π / T

Plugging in the relevant values;

ωₓ = 2π/86400

ωₓ = 7.272205217  x 10⁻⁵ rad/s

The average angular acceleration is given by;

α  = (ωₓ -   ωₐ) /  T₁

α = ((7.272205217  × 10⁻⁵) - (7.272205023 × 10⁻⁵)) / 31536000.84

 α  = 6.152 X 10⁻²⁰ rad/s²

Thus, the average angular acceleration of the Earth is; α  = 6.152 X 10⁻²⁰ rad/s²

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