What Would Happen if Everyone on Earth Jumped at Once?
- Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:48pm by
Liz Klimas
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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.
(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)
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Comments (72)
vic138
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:50pmThis 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 Post »soybomb315_II
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:58pmjumping 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 Post »vic138
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 6:30pmI was joking. I studied conservation of energy, newton’s laws, thermodynamics, etc.
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 6:54pmThat has always been my solution to save the earth from ‘global warming – somehow move the earth away from the sun. . .
Report Post »Twobyfour
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 7:30pmGumbercules, don’t get any ideas! I like global warming. It has a surprisingly beneficial effect on my old arthritic bones.
Report Post »KURT1010
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:30amWho cares? This makes the news when the USA has so many problems with jobs, homless, all the hungry people ? etc etc etc
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:40pmWhat 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 Post »soybomb315_II
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:21pmwhat would happpen if everyone refused to vote for either Romney or Obama
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:42pmSOY
I really worry that you’re going to be okay on Nov. 7th.
Report Post »soybomb315_II
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:55pmone stupid question deserves another, right?
Report Post »Oneirishman
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:56pmRon Paul would win, those guys are wicked scary!
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:53pmPlease 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 Post »TheBurningTruth
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:19pmThis 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 Post »DREDGE
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:11pmIf everyone farted at the same time would the world come to an end????
Report Post »Minnaloushe
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:17pmNot sure. What did you eat?
Report Post »EspaldaMojada
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:19pmThere 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 Post »Berealalready
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:33pmThis 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 Post »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.”
Report Post »—————————————————————-
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.
Deibido
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:07pmIf 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 Post »ronin_6
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:57pmIf we stood shoulder to shoulder we call fit inside LA.
Can you imagine the lines for the port-a-potties?
Report Post »TheBurningTruth
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:16pmThat’s why they picked LA. It’s already one big portapotty.
Report Post »GaltLine
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:52pmThis 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 Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:54pm@GaltLine
I was thinking the same thing.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:51pmWhat 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 Post »soybomb315_II
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:01pma 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 Post »Twobyfour
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 7:49pmSoyo, 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 Post »copatriots
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:51pmMaybe we can get Bill Nye on this one……… LOL
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:43pmYou’re kidding, right???
Report Post »perry1980
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:41pmJunk Science.
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:36pmIf 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 Post »HotFixIt
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:30pmA 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 Post »GaltLine
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:15pmSo if we all stand facing Charlotte and at the count of 3 blow really hard? 1 2 ….
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:28pmDon’t Do It Moochelle !!
Report Post »face.chewer
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:26pmTropical storm Issac originated as a poorly digested bean burrito.
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:48pmI’ve heard that ..
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:26pmI think he meant hopped.
Report Post »TIME_THE_AVENGER
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:24pmWe’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 Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:36pmArchimedes, he same one who figured out density…….
Report Post »TIME_THE_AVENGER
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:43pmEureka! Thanks STOIC ONE.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:45pmYou both reeka. Just don’t hop on me. :)
Report Post »liberalescheisskopf
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:28pmI thought it was Jimmy……..
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:11pmThey 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 Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:04pmAnd if all the BLAZE readers stopped reading “Entertainment” stories all at once – would anyone notice?
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:04pmWhat would happen if everyone jumped as one?
NOTHING. What a stupid question…
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:07pmYou beat me to it, Woody
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:14pmno 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 Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:00pmRegardless of their weight, they would all come down at the same time!
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:23pmNah, the black guys would come down later. Everyone knows white men can’t jump.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:57pmThis 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 Post »jamesctheman
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:57pmFascinating question. What’s next? If we all ran opposite the rotation of the Earth would we be able to slow it down?
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:11pmJust 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 Post »floridareader
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:20pmJamesctheman, that was a good one…hahahahahaha!!!
Report Post »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.
iblvingd
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:53pmI hope we can give the government money back on this study. Wonder if it would help reduce the debt.
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