Monday, November 23, 2015
How Long is a Day?
"Mama," my eleven-year-old son asked. "How long is a day?"
"Twenty four hours," I said, without thinking twice.
"No, it's not," my son said.
"What do you mean?"
Bubba explained. "Scientists discovered that a huge earthquake caused the earth to alter its rotation. There is one less millisecond per day, than there used to be."
"That's nice," I said. "So, how long is it going to take to notice the difference?"
Bubba shrugged. "I don't know."
That wasn't a good enough answer. Since I was curious about the situation, I did a little math. One day equals 86,400,000 milliseconds. It will take 2, 367,123.29 years for all those little milliseconds to equal a full day. Guess I'm not going to worry about it too much, and neither should you.
Today I'm a guest over at Indie Authors. If you'd like to read the story behind my latest book, Ten Zany Birds, please stop by!
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Hi, dear Sherry! How true, how true, how true. Sometimes it seems there aren't enough milliseconds in a day. :)
ReplyDeleteI am chief of the Truth in Blogging police and I intend to check back here 2, 367,123.29 years from now to make sure your data is accurate. :)
Haha! I don't know if I'll be here, but you are certainly welcome to check back and post the results! ;-)
DeleteThat's a long time. Don't think I'm going to worry about it.
ReplyDeleteToo many other things to worry about. ;-)
Deleteyou lost me with the numbers :)
ReplyDeleteIt's all quite complicated. :0)
DeleteIsn't that what leap seconds are for? They reset every so often so as to keep the clocks and calendars accurate.
ReplyDeleteLeap seconds. I don't think I got the memo on that, but it makes sense.
DeleteI swear Bubba comes up with the most interesting facts... I don't think I could have kept up the numbers though xox
ReplyDeleteHe has a very scientific mind - just like me. ;-)
DeleteYour son asked you what I would have thought an impossible question, you had the brains to work it out. Good for you Sherry.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Haha! Yay, me! ;-)
DeleteAh, what a difference a millisecond makes...
ReplyDeleteI wish the earthquake had added a few more milliseconds. I sure could use them!
DeleteWell unless the fountain of youth shows itself, no one today should care
ReplyDeleteI wonder if someone will stumble across this blog 2,367,123.29 years from now and verify this. ;-)
DeleteI wonder if it was caused by the earthquake we had here a few weeks ago. The one that knocked down absolutely nothing that I am aware of.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound like fun!
DeleteOh wow ! That book looks very interesting. Congrats !
ReplyDeleteI guess, kids like to be precise, so a day is a wee bit smaller than twenty four hours.
Bubba wanted to make sure I got my facts straight.
DeleteI knew days were getting shorter
ReplyDeleteGood observation! ;-)
DeleteI love children who are curious and ask interesting questions. Bubba always learns something new.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yes, he does.
DeleteSo we'll have an extra leap year millions of years into the future? :)
ReplyDeleteIf my predictions are accurate, then yes. ;-)
DeleteDon't you just love some of the questions they come out with? Talk about keeping us on our toes.
ReplyDeleteThe boy is always thinking.
DeleteIsn't it nice to find something we really don't need to worry about?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is!
DeleteYou really can google anything these days! That is so cool! :)
ReplyDelete