How Much The Earth Weighs And How It Is Calculated

Earth, with its plethora of discovered and undiscovered elements, holds a weight that has puzzled many. The collective mass of rocks, oceans and even human-made structures prompts the question: how much does our planet truly weigh? Surprisingly, there isn’t a single answer to this query.

Much like how a person’s weight fluctuates when they step onto the moon’s surface, Earth’s weight isn’t fixed. Instead, it varies based on the gravitational force it exerts. According to Live Science, Earth’s weight can range from billions to trillions of pounds, or even be considered negligible.

Scientists have dedicated centuries to determining Earth’s mass rather than its weight. Mass refers to the resistance an object exhibits to movement against a force. According to NASA, Earth’s mass is approximately 5.9722×10^24 kilograms, equivalent to roughly 13.1 septillion pounds. For context, this is approximately 13 quadrillion times the weight of Egypt’s Pyramid of Khafre, estimated to be around 4.8 billion kilograms or 10 billion pounds. While Earth’s mass undergoes slight fluctuations due to factors like space dust and atmospheric gases, these changes are negligible in the grand scheme and won’t significantly impact the planet for billions of years to come.

Meteorologist Stephan Schlamminger from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology explains that Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation plays a crucial role in understanding Earth’s mass. This law states that any object with mass exerts a gravitational force, leading to an attraction between any two objects.

In 1797, physicist Henry Cavendish conducted groundbreaking experiments, now known as the Cavendish experiments, to measure the gravitational force between objects. These experiments were instrumental in accurately determining Earth’s mass, a previously deemed impossible task.

While Earth’s weight may seem like an enigma, scientists have diligently worked to unravel its mysteries through the study of mass and gravitational forces. The culmination of centuries of research has provided valuable insights into the weight of our remarkable plane.