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Chapter 1: Problem 4

Why doesn't Earth's rotation provide a suitable time standard?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Earth's rotation is not a suitable time standard because the speed of Earth's rotation is not constant and can be influenced by various factors, which could lead to inconsistencies and inaccuracies if used as a measure of time.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Time Standards

A time standard is an agreed-upon way to measure time, which needs to be reliable and constant. The most common time standard in use today is International Atomic Time, which is based on the vibration of atoms in a cesium-133 atom at absolute zero temperature.
02

Understand Earth's Rotation

Earth's rotation refers to the spinning of the Earth around its own axis. One full rotation is what we typically associate with a day. However, the speed of Earth's rotation is not completely constant and can change due to several factors, such as geologic or atmospheric conditions.
03

Explain Why Earth's Rotation Is Not A Suitable Time Standard

The inconsistency in the speed of Earth's rotation makes it not a suitable time standard. Because it's not entirely predictable, it could lead to inaccuracies if used as a time standard. For example, a day (one full rotation) might vary slightly from 24 hours.

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