This physics question has bugged me since I was around 15 years old.
The sun is constantly giving us energy. Admittedly, a lot of it is being emitted back. But some of it stays on Earth. Does this energy contribute to increase Earth’s mass since E=mC(squared)?
If yes, then I have another question. Once space travel becomes common, will this result in earth losing some of its mass in the form of fuel and rocket parts and travellers on board?
Will these changes in mass result in change in temperature and gravity etc due to change in size of the planet’s core?
In: Physics
The Earth actually radiates *more* energy into space than the sun radiates towards us.
This is fairly easily proved: The temperature stays about the same, but heat is produced in the core by radioactive decay. This means that there must be a net heat *loss* to maintain the constant temperature.
*However*, the Earth loses mass from its atmosphere and gains mass from falling space rocks all the time. Scientists estimate a net *loss* of mass between these processes.
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