Tax Tom said:Does anyone know for sure if it's true that the angular momentum of the Earth has been decreasing, and that therefore the Earth is slowing down in it's orbit around the Sun, and is currently several "months" behind where it should be, in orbit?
Angular momentum is a physical quantity that measures the amount of rotation of a system around an axis. In the case of Earth, it refers to the rotation of the planet around its own axis.
The angular momentum of Earth is decreasing due to the presence of external forces, such as the gravitational pull of the Moon and other celestial bodies, and the transfer of energy between the Earth's rotation and its orbit around the Sun.
The decrease in angular momentum of Earth leads to a gradual slowing down of the planet's rotation. This results in longer days and shorter nights, and changes in the Earth's climate and weather patterns.
While the decrease in angular momentum of Earth is a natural process, it is not a cause for immediate concern. The changes in Earth's rotation and climate occur over long periods of time and are not significant enough to have a major impact on our daily lives.
The decrease in angular momentum of Earth cannot be reversed, as it is a result of natural processes. However, it can be affected by human activities, such as the construction of large dams or extraction of natural resources, which can alter the distribution of mass on Earth and affect its rotation.