To: TaraP
The International Earth Rotation Service has regularly added a second or two to the length of a 24-hour day in recent years. No. They add a second to the year occasionally. The second was defined as 1/86400 of the average day, then redefined as a certain number of oscillations of a cesium atom, but the atomic clocks are more accurate than the original measurements for the length of day. 23 leap seconds have been added since 1972 with another one planned at the end of the year.
2 posted on
11/17/2008 7:10:37 AM PST by
KarlInOhio
(11/4: The revolutionary socialists beat the Fabian ones. Where can we find a capitalist party?)
To: KarlInOhio
No. They add a second to the year occasionally. The second was defined as 1/86400 of the average day, then redefined as a certain number of oscillations of a cesium atom, but the atomic clocks are more accurate than the original measurements for the length of day. 23 leap seconds have been added since 1972 with another one planned at the end of the year. You are correct, and this article is absolute nonsense.
But if the article was accurate, and adding a second was a big problem, just think how bad leap years would be!
4 posted on
11/17/2008 7:13:45 AM PST by
Coyoteman
(Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.)
To: KarlInOhio
Is that a nanocubit, or kiloquark?
29 posted on
12/29/2008 12:02:55 PM PST by
xcamel
(The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken)
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