as you probably know we measure the length of a day by how long it takes for
length of a day by how long it takes for
length of a day by how long it takes for the earth to rotate once on its axis
the earth to rotate once on its axis
the earth to rotate once on its axis which is about 24 hours
which is about 24 hours
which is about 24 hours but sometimes the days get a little
but sometimes the days get a little
but sometimes the days get a little longer because we add what’s called a
longer because we add what’s called a
longer because we add what’s called a leap second but what is a leap second
leap second but what is a leap second
leap second but what is a leap second and why do we need it
and why do we need it
and why do we need it this is leap second 101 a leap second
this is leap second 101 a leap second
this is leap second 101 a leap second helps make sure that the clocks we use
helps make sure that the clocks we use
helps make sure that the clocks we use to measure time and the actual rotation
to measure time and the actual rotation
to measure time and the actual rotation of the earth stay as closely in sync as
of the earth stay as closely in sync as
of the earth stay as closely in sync as possible we do this because throughout
possible we do this because throughout
possible we do this because throughout the year the speed of the Earth’s
the year the speed of the Earth’s
the year the speed of the Earth’s rotation changes ever so slightly it can
rotation changes ever so slightly it can
rotation changes ever so slightly it can be sped up or slowed down by natural
be sped up or slowed down by natural
be sped up or slowed down by natural geological events like earthquakes and
geological events like earthquakes and
geological events like earthquakes and volcanoes so when our measurement of
volcanoes so when our measurement of
volcanoes so when our measurement of time is thrown off by Earth’s rotation
time is thrown off by Earth’s rotation
time is thrown off by Earth’s rotation slowing down we have to account for it
slowing down we have to account for it
slowing down we have to account for it somehow and adding a leap second is one
somehow and adding a leap second is one
somehow and adding a leap second is one way to do it when the International
way to do it when the International
way to do it when the International earth rotation and reference system
earth rotation and reference system
earth rotation and reference system service yes this is a real thing
service yes this is a real thing
service yes this is a real thing predicts that the difference in Earth’s
predicts that the difference in Earth’s
predicts that the difference in Earth’s rotation and our clocks will be off by
rotation and our clocks will be off by
rotation and our clocks will be off by 0.9 seconds a leap second is added to
0.9 seconds a leap second is added to
0.9 seconds a leap second is added to the day the leap second is announced
the day the leap second is announced
the day the leap second is announced almost six months in advance so that
almost six months in advance so that
almost six months in advance so that everyone has time to prepare by
everyone has time to prepare by
everyone has time to prepare by adjusting our clocks like this every few
adjusting our clocks like this every few
adjusting our clocks like this every few years we are able to more closely match
years we are able to more closely match
years we are able to more closely match the world standard measurement of time
the world standard measurement of time
the world standard measurement of time with the natural changes of the Earth’s
with the natural changes of the Earth’s
with the natural changes of the Earth’s rotation
rotation
rotation this slight change can actually be a
this slight change can actually be a
this slight change can actually be a really big deal if the computer systems
really big deal if the computer systems
really big deal if the computer systems that we all rely on aren’t properly
that we all rely on aren’t properly
that we all rely on aren’t properly programmed to handle it when a leap
programmed to handle it when a leap
programmed to handle it when a leap second was added in 2012 it caused some
second was added in 2012 it caused some
second was added in 2012 it caused some webpages to crash a few GPS receivers
webpages to crash a few GPS receivers
webpages to crash a few GPS receivers failed and airline passengers were left
failed and airline passengers were left
failed and airline passengers were left stranded because entire airline booking
stranded because entire airline booking
stranded because entire airline booking systems failed since 1971 more than two
systems failed since 1971 more than two
systems failed since 1971 more than two dozen leap seconds have been added but
dozen leap seconds have been added but
dozen leap seconds have been added but that doesn’t mean the days are now
that doesn’t mean the days are now
that doesn’t mean the days are now longer it just means that the day on
longer it just means that the day on
longer it just means that the day on which the leap second was added was one
which the leap second was added was one
which the leap second was added was one second longer many of us might miss it
second longer many of us might miss it
second longer many of us might miss it because it’s so quick but this and all
because it’s so quick but this and all
because it’s so quick but this and all the other small shifts from leap seconds
the other small shifts from leap seconds
the other small shifts from leap seconds will keep us on track and on time on a
will keep us on track and on time on a
will keep us on track and on time on a planetary level
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