Atomic clocks
Leap seconds are introduced because, according to our reference standard — the atomic clock — the earth’s rotation is slowing down.
But surely it’s all relative? The earth’s rotation could be staying the same, and the oscillation of caesium speeding up, for reasons we don’t understand. Is it actually possible to tell the difference? Is atomic oscillation calibrated against something other than other atomic oscillations?
January 23rd, 2006 at 1:01 am
I don’t know about atomic clocks but
the earth definitely is slowing down
because of tidal drag with the moon
with the energy of the earths lost rotation
pushing the moon into a higher orbit.