Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Science

What Would Happen if Everyone on Earth Jumped at Once?

Aug. 27, 2012 2:48pm Liz Klimas

You may know what happens if everyone on a trampoline jumps at once — and then comes down. You may have even tried having everyone in an elevator jump at the same time. But what would happen if everyone on the entire planet was organized to leap into the air at the exact same moment?

Michael Stevens, who maintains the YouTube Channel VSauce, ponders this very idea in his video, “What If Everyone JUMPED At Once?” It’s a popular question that many want answers to, given that the clip has gotten more than 5.7 million views since being posted less than 10 days ago.

VSauce Answers Physics Behind the Question What If Everyone Jumped At Once in Viral Video

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

“Could it cause an earthquake or would you not even be able to tell?” he asks.

Stevens goes on to have us first consider the concept of earth spinning and how it would spin faster if there were more mass at its center. The earthquake in Japan last year, for example, concentrated more mass toward Earth’s equator that it has made each day 1.8 microseconds shorter since.

Could humans have an impact similar to this “giant geological event?”

Consider this, Stevens says: If everyone on Earth were to live in the same density as the residents of New York City, the entire population of the planet could fit in Texas. If we were to all stand shoulder to shoulder, then the entire population could fit into Los Angeles.

“It would be an incredible sight to behold. A mere 500 square miles containing every single person on Earth,” Stevens says, smirking at how ridiculous that could look. “And then we jump, what happens?”

So as not to spoil the ending, check out the video to find out the answer for yourself (or read below):

“Unfortunately, not much,” Stevens says.

Stevens calls up a calculation by Rhett Allain, a physicist who writes for Wired’s Dot Physics blog, who found that even with the mass of all humanity, Earth would only be pushed a little bit.

“Earth would only move away from us one hundredth of the width of a single hydrogen atom,” Stevens says.

Suffice to say, Earth would be left in the same position where it started and no worse for the wear. But what about a seismic measurement? Stevens says the BBC did an experiment with 50,000 people and 1.5 kilometers away it barely registered (0.6) on the Richter scale.

“So, even though we’re all awesome, compared to the size of the Earth, we’re not much,” he said.

(H/T: Huffington Post)

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (72)

vic138
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:50pm
This gives me a thought. What if everyone in the daylight jumps up and down. The impact will push the earth away from the sun and global warming is solved. Maybe I should write a letter to Obama, maybe he could bring it up at the debates this fall. Election over, done…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:58pm
  jumping up and down will result in counterbalancing forces and would have no effect
  
  you could have everyone in daylight lay down and everyone in darkness stand up and stay that way for the entire cycle. Do that for each cycle for a few months and we might be talking about something measurable
  
  Report this comment
- vic138
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 6:30pm
  I was joking. I studied conservation of energy, newton’s laws, thermodynamics, etc.
  
  Report this comment
- Gumbercules
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 6:54pm
  That has always been my solution to save the earth from ‘global warming – somehow move the earth away from the sun. . .
  
  Report this comment
- Twobyfour
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 7:30pm
  Gumbercules, don’t get any ideas! I like global warming. It has a surprisingly beneficial effect on my old arthritic bones.
  
  Report this comment
- KURT1010
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:30am
  Who cares? This makes the news when the USA has so many problems with jobs, homless, all the hungry people ? etc etc etc
  
  Report this comment
Ron Staiger
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:40pm
What would happen to climate change if everyone farted at once? Would it be so much methane that we would spontaneously combust? How about if everyone in the western hemisphere prostrated themselves- facing to the east of course- and farted? And we lit those farts at the same time- would we rocket out of orbit? Who would lite them if we all have to fart at once? Now that NASA isn’t busy, perhaps they could get to calculating and come up with the answers.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
soybomb315_II
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:21pm
what would happpen if everyone refused to vote for either Romney or Obama

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- copatriots
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:42pm
  SOY
  
  I really worry that you’re going to be okay on Nov. 7th.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:55pm
  one stupid question deserves another, right?
  
  Report this comment
- Oneirishman
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:56pm
  Ron Paul would win, those guys are wicked scary!
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:53pm
  Please think through your reaction to things not ending up well on Nov. 7th. Neither Ron Paul nor Gary Johnson will be President. In all likelihood, the Dems will still control the Senate.
  
  I remember my feeling the day SCOTUS upheld 0bamacare. Your feeling of loss is going to be overwhelming. Plan well for it now, my friend.
  
  Report this comment
TheBurningTruth
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:19pm
This reminds me of an analysis done over 30 years ago about what would happen if everyone in China jumped off a 1ft tall platform every hour or two (don’t remember the time interval). They would start a traveling wave throught he earth’s crust that was reinforced everytime the wave came back around and they added to it with a successive jump. The wave would increase until it did cause earthquakes. To offset this, every American would have to jump off a 5ft tall platform at the right time to counter the effect.

Kind of dueling “waves” like at a sport event.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DREDGE
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:11pm
If everyone farted at the same time would the world come to an end????

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Minnaloushe
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:17pm
  Not sure. What did you eat?
  
  Report this comment
- EspaldaMojada
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:19pm
  There would be thousands of sprained ankles and a couple breaks, a few disc bulges and not much else. Now if you are in the black caucus you may think the world would tip and Obama would stumble. Oh well, let’s give it a shot. Perhaps they could be right on one thing.
  
  Report this comment
- Berealalready
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:33pm
  This happens at my house every night, the world does not end and don’t let anyone tell you women are not equal to men.
  
  Report this comment
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:11pm
“So, even though we’re all awesome, compared to the size of the Earth, we’re not much,” he said.”
—————————————————————-
And THAT is why the is no Man-made Global Warming, because WE don’t have that much of an impact on the earth. We are just mere specks of dust on a dust particle.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Deibido
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:07pm
If everyone would jump all at once, maybe we could get a hole large enough to put all of the liberal/ progessives into it and cover it with lots of dirt…quick, quick…let’s coordinate!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ronin_6
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:57pm
If we stood shoulder to shoulder we call fit inside LA.

Can you imagine the lines for the port-a-potties?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- TheBurningTruth
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:16pm
  That’s why they picked LA. It’s already one big portapotty.
  
  Report this comment
GaltLine
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:52pm
This technologist has perhaps inadvertently shot down every zany nitwit who claims the earth is near over-population. Might as well say all of the earth’s population is like a thimblefull in an ocean that never ends.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- The-Monk
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:54pm
  @GaltLine
  
  I was thinking the same thing.
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:51pm
What happens (happened) when China builds (built) the largest dam on Earth?

The Earths rotation is slowed….

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2537274/posts

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-06-18/news/29962195_1_inertia-rotation-axis

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:01pm
  a similar phenomina happens when you take coal or oil below the surface and bring it to ground level (or put into atmosphere) – it slows down rotation…. We better not let that one get out – environmentalists dont need more ammo
  
  Report this comment
- Twobyfour
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 7:49pm
  Soyo, re pil–you need to put something in to keep the pressure so you can pump out oil. Usually water. Oil specific weight is less than water, hence you compensate both for oil and coal taken out (not mentioning that old coal mines flood often).
  
  OTOH, I change the rotation every time I lift my coffee cup. Then set it back to the original speed when I put it down. Try it, it’s fun!
  
  Report this comment
copatriots
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:51pm
Maybe we can get Bill Nye on this one……… LOL

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RightUnite
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:43pm
You’re kidding, right???

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
perry1980
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:41pm
Junk Science.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
randy
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:36pm
If everyone on Earth were to live in the same density as the residents of New York City, the entire population of the planet could fit in Texas. If we were to all stand shoulder to shoulder, then the entire population could fit into Los Angeles.

Yes liberals still persist with this man made global warming cr@p?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HotFixIt
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:30pm
A litte perspective on our ability to affect the way our planet works…. and so many try to say we are causing the weather…. right.. and I think I can cause another hurricane to disrupt the DNC convention too!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- GaltLine
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:15pm
  So if we all stand facing Charlotte and at the count of 3 blow really hard? 1 2 ….
  
  Report this comment
Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:28pm
Don’t Do It Moochelle !!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
face.chewer
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:26pm
Tropical storm Issac originated as a poorly digested bean burrito.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Too_Far_Gone
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:48pm
  I’ve heard that ..
  
  Report this comment
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:26pm
I think he meant hopped.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TIME_THE_AVENGER
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:24pm
We’re just ants in the afterbirth here. Then again, Didn’t a Greek mathematician say “Give me a place to stand, and I’ll move the Earth”, referring to the lever. Makes me wonder. Wonder which Greek it was. Euclid? Euripides? …dang…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Stoic one
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:36pm
  Archimedes, he same one who figured out density…….
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_THE_AVENGER
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:43pm
  Eureka! Thanks STOIC ONE.
  
  Report this comment
- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:45pm
  You both reeka. Just don’t hop on me. :)
  
  Report this comment
- liberalescheisskopf
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:28pm
  I thought it was Jimmy……..
  
  Report this comment
blackyb
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:11pm
They do, constantly in one form or the other, or it all averages out the same as if everyone was in sync. Think about the bomb tests, the quarries and mines using dynamite, cars and motor vehicles jumping and crashing, It all averages out to constant movement and “jumps.” While some sleep, jumping and impacts keep on. The earth is not still. It would make no difference, but the earth will shift as constantly and unnoticably and sometimes noticably. God has it in control.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:04pm
And if all the BLAZE readers stopped reading “Entertainment” stories all at once – would anyone notice?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
woodyee
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:04pm
What would happen if everyone jumped as one?

NOTHING. What a stupid question…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- QuincySmith
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:07pm
  You beat me to it, Woody
  
  Report this comment
- Eblaze44
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:14pm
  no one will ever know – first – you have to get everyone to jump at the same exact time – just try getting your wife – or your husband – ready to go shopping or to church – on time. too funny and a rather stupid question.
  
  Report this comment
watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:00pm
Regardless of their weight, they would all come down at the same time!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- THX-1138
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:23pm
  Nah, the black guys would come down later. Everyone knows white men can’t jump.
  
  Report this comment
right-wing-waco
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:57pm
This is one topic that I cannot figure the reason it got on the Blaze. Here is a better question: What if we all exhaled in the same direction? Could we slow or speed up the rotation of the Earth? What if ALL went to our Congress”persons” office and demanded the return to Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution? What if…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
jamesctheman
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:57pm
Fascinating question. What’s next? If we all ran opposite the rotation of the Earth would we be able to slow it down?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- QuincySmith
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:11pm
  Just trying to convince us that man can control Earth, or its atmosphere, or global weather. I seem to recall a saying: “Weather, we all talk about it, but no one can do anything about it”. Actual quote may be wrong but the message isn’t.
  
  Report this comment
- floridareader
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:20pm
  Jamesctheman, that was a good one…hahahahahaha!!!
  er, wait, maybe if we jump all at once, people like Michael Stevens and liberals all over the world would hear an empty sound in their skulls.
  
  Report this comment
- iblvingd
  Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:53pm
  I hope we can give the government money back on this study. Wonder if it would help reduce the debt.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.