[Physics] Huge buildings affect Earth’s rotation

angular momentumconservation-lawsearthnewtonian-mechanicsrotational-dynamics

Does constructing huge buildings affect the rotation of the Earth, similar to skater whose angular rotation increases when her arms are closed comparatively than open?

Best Answer

From conservation of angular momentum we have $(I+\Delta I)(\omega+\Delta \omega) = I\omega,$ or $$\frac{\Delta \omega}{\omega} = - \frac{\Delta I}{I+\Delta I} \simeq -\frac{\Delta I}{I}.$$ We make the following simplifying assumptions:

  • The earth is a sphere of uniform density of mass $M$ and radius $R$.

  • The building is constructed on the equator by digging out a sphere of earth of mass $m$ and radius $r$ and raising it a distance $2r$. We assume $r\ll R$.

With these assumptions we find $$\begin{eqnarray*} \frac{\Delta \omega}{\omega} &\simeq& - \frac{m(R+r)^2-m (R-r)^2}{\frac{2}{5}M R^2} \\ &\simeq& - 10\frac{r^4}{R^4}. \end{eqnarray*}$$

Assuming that $r$ is 200 m (the geometric mean of 100 m, 100 m, and 750 m) we find
$$\begin{eqnarray*} \frac{\Delta \omega}{\omega} &\simeq& -10^{-17}. \end{eqnarray*}$$ Atomic clocks are accurate to about one part in $10^{14}$, so there is no hope in measuring such an effect.