The Rotation of the Earth

The rotation of the earth is gradually slowing due to the gravitational drag forces of the sun, moon and other factors. Did you know we have a leap second every year and a half now because the earth is slowing down?

“Earth’s Rotation is slowing down. To compensate for this lagging motion, June will be one second longer than normal. This ‘Leap Second’ announced by the International Earth Rotation Service in February, will keep calendar time in close alignment with international time.” —Astronomy Magazine, June 1992, p 24

Past leap seconds: Jan. 1973 Jan. 1974 Jan. 1975 Jan. 1976 Jan. 1977 Jan. 1978 Jan. 1979 Jan. 1980 July 1981 July 1982 July 1983 July 1985 Jan. 1988 Jan. 1990 Jan. 1991 July 1992 July 1993 July 1994 Jan. 1996 International Earth Rotation Service

If the earth is six thousand years old like the Bible says, this is not a problem.  Adam wouldn't notice.  He didn't have a watch anyway.  However, if the earth is billions of years old, the days and nights would be pretty quick.  The earth would be spinning twice as fast as it is now.

Loosing 2/1000 of a second every 179 years means a exponential decay of 2.3e-8 percent per 179 years.

AT FORMATION OF EARTH
5,000,000,000/179 =~ 28,000,000 periods.
24 hours /(1.000 000 023 ^ 28,000,000) = 12.6 hours per day.

NOTE: This is based upon the assumption of a constant loose of kinetic energy (hence the exponential decay). This is a very simplified illustration but it serves its purpose.

The 2/1000 of a second every 179 years, comes from http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/leapsec.html

• Hovind, Kent E. Creation Seminar, Parts 1-7 (most items referenced on screen—available from Creation Science Evangelism, 29 Cummings Road, Pensacola, Fla. 32503).
  
• Huse, Scott M. The Collapse of Evolution. Baker Books, date?.
  (ISBN # 0801057744)  (See http://www.chick.com/reading/books/174/evolvex.asp)