World Jump Day

The folks at World Jump Day plan to shift the orbit of planet Earth in order to "stop global warming, extend daytime hours and create a more homogenous climate." They'll achieve this by having 600 million people jump up in the air at the same time on July 20, 2006. And they're looking for jumpers! This, of course, recalls the old idea that "If all Chinese jumped at once, cataclysm would result." This has been debunked by The Straight Dope, which points out that the force generated by one billion Chinese people jumping up in the air at the same time would only be equivalent to about 500 tons of TNT. In other words, not that much. However, I don't think the creators of World Jump Day intend for anyone to take their idea that seriously. The site is registered to a German artist, Torsten Lauschmann. According to his web bio Lauschmann: celebrates glitches, and out-takes, bits in between and images that might be easy to ignore. Lauschmann is currently on a Trans European busking tour under the guise of Slender Whiteman where he will launch his solar powered dub system. He lives and works in Glasgow. Lauschmann also appears to be a member of a German art group called Vene Hammerschlag, which has also hosted World Jump Day on its site. In other words, World Jump Day appears to be some kind of art project hoax.

Websites

Posted on Mon Feb 28, 2005


Comments

You should see my Platypus Katydid and my Paraphenalia Blynken. Just the sight of them makes the whole world jump.
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Wed Mar 02, 2005  at  12:05 PM
Another thing that most people don't realize is that when everyone jumps (and let's assume that only people in the Western Hemisphere are jumping, as they mention on their page), the people move up and the Earth moves down (very little of course). When the people fall back to Earth, the Earth falls back to the people. When the people land, the Earth is back in its original position. The only way to change the Earth's orbit is if the people could actually jump off of the Earth and out of our solar system.
Posted by Nate Smith  on  Mon Apr 04, 2005  at  02:05 PM
"extend daytime hours and create a more homogenous climate"

What do I win with more our per date? my biological time will be the same...
I will be 40 years old and I will look like
a 80 years old man.
Another point is that the moon is going to mantain it's orbit... this will generate a real
madness in the oceans. Cities near it will be covered by water.
Posted by Mike  on  Wed Apr 06, 2005  at  10:23 PM
Maxwell, jump. Jump! Go ahead and jump! :coolcheese:
Posted by Ztrain  on  Wed Apr 27, 2005  at  12:24 PM
This is the most rediculous thing i've ever seen. NO YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE ORBIT OF EARTH BY SIMPLY HAVING EVERYONE JUMP ON IT AT THE SAME TIME. Those of you who know some basic physics realize that conservation of momentum is the reason this cannot happen.
Posted by Person With A Brain  on  Mon May 23, 2005  at  03:33 AM
Actually, Person with a Brain, it isn't conservation of motion that is the killer to the idea, it is the relative mass. If you apply enough force opposite to the direction to Earth's rotation you could, in theory, stop the Earth. Everyone jumping up and down couldn't do it. That earthquake in Indonesia, according to a couple of reports I read, changed the Earth's rotation by somewhere around a nanosecond or so. The weight of the entire population is so small in comparison to the mass of the Earth that even if everyone acted in concert, it would make exactly no difference. You need a special device only available from the Secret Masters to make any difference.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Mon May 23, 2005  at  12:14 PM
Christopher, you and Person are both correct. It is possible for us to change the rotation of the Earth (similar to us running on a giant spinning log), but not possible for us to change it's orbit. Person is correct that conservation of momentum is the reason. You aren't disagreeing with each other. He is addressing the orbit, and you are addressing the rotation.
Posted by Nate Smith  on  Mon May 23, 2005  at  07:19 PM
Presuming Bode's Law is not a real law of nature, it is possible to change Earth's orbit. The Earth is slowing down in its orbit due to friction with the Solar Wind even now. As the Earth slows, it moves farther from the Sun, that is the conservation of motion since the Earth will "spend" the same amount of energy traveling a longer distance at a slower speed.

However, I forgot that the original World Jump Day was about changing the orbit and not the rotation. Not that everyone jumping at the same time would do either, but it would be easier to change the rotation because of the energies involved.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Mon May 23, 2005  at  08:09 PM
Losers, this thing is going to rock.
Posted by Ed  on  Thu Jun 02, 2005  at  09:24 PM
What's the matter with you, what can you possible have against this noble undertaking? Why are you undermining the credibility of this deeply serious project on which our future relies? It's guys like you that bring this earth into damnation!!
Posted by Tore  on  Tue Jun 14, 2005  at  11:48 AM
Hi,

Well, this bizarre idea came to me as one of those excentric ideas of the 19th century.
We really need to grab our math and physics manuals and remember some principles of classical mechanics, energy, etc. if we are willing to bother us with such nonsense.
An article will be published in Cosmos, http://cosmos.com.pt, with the theory and the pratical side of this so called "project". The values from "The Straight Dope" seem to me wrong, at the first glance - one must know what's mass, weight, velocity and Energy.
As for the day choosen, I must admit this, the guys behind this maniac project did their homework - that I can reveal for now.

I'm just waiting for their reply regarding an interview I requested - but I didn't receive anything ( and probably won't...I wonder why ? 😊

Let's wait and see.

Kind regards,

Rui Miguel Fernandes
Posted by Rui Miguel Fernandes  on  Thu Jun 30, 2005  at  10:22 AM
Those guys are right, no matter how much people could jump at the same time, it wouldn't change our orbit a nanomilimeter. We must be smart... Let's start a World Sprint Day to change earth's rotation. Or better, a World Fart Day! Everyone eats beans and fart and the exact same second!!! Awesome!
Posted by arg  on  Tue Jul 05, 2005  at  09:26 PM
Hello, well, my personal thoughts on all of this? IF, somehow lets just say this thing really works and changes the orbit of the earth, I dont think it will help. It will either become very cold, or very hot. Maybe a new name for this project should be named "Attempting Doom Day"
Posted by Renegade  on  Wed Jul 06, 2005  at  05:47 PM
1)You're right.
2) It's a hoax - an online art project.
Posted by Boo  on  Wed Jul 06, 2005  at  05:54 PM
hello!!!!!! i mean u people just criticize the idea but u dont provide one, yes it is the dumbest idea i never seen but at least somebody is trying to do something come on people be open mind dont
Posted by ellatina  on  Tue Jul 12, 2005  at  12:23 PM
The center of mass of earth motion is governed by the resultant of external forces (gravitational, magnetic...etc. etc.): R = M*a.
If there is no external force the center of mass of earth moves with constant speed in a stright line: in this case no internal force (like those from the jump)can change the motion of the centre of mass.
But this is not the case : here we are in presence of external forces.
My doubt is : can internal forces (and mass distribution variation) cause a change in external forces ? If yes the orbit could be changed in principle. Surely the rotation period of the earth can be changed by redistribution of mass !

Giuseppe
Posted by giuseppe  on  Sun Jul 24, 2005  at  05:10 AM
EVERYONE ONCE BELIEVED THAT THE EARTH WAS FLAT, AND WHO SAID OTHERWISE WAS CONSIDERED CRAZY. WHY NOT JUMP IF IT WON
Posted by Copernica  on  Fri Sep 23, 2005  at  12:06 PM
Yes, and we now consider that idea ridiculous. You are not asking us to "OPEN OUR MINDS TO NEW IDEAS", you are asking us to not use ours. Feel free to jump, but don't pretend that you are doing so as a search for truth.
Posted by Nate Smith  on  Fri Sep 23, 2005  at  02:31 PM
Hi,

Well, I did waste sometime with the subject. Facts: specific angles are choosen for that date regarding each people in the world; the medium point regarding the longitudes makes exactly 90 degrees with the vector Earth-Sun ( they did their math and a complicated one, I must say ). It would be my choice for a stunt like this IF we had enough energy - which we don't. I made several scenarious, an none can move the Earth not even a millimeter - not even a thousandth of millimeter.

Now...as for the effects in the Earth's crust and in the tectonics plaques...there I don't know...You all experienced, I think, the trembling of your house because of a car that crosses your street or the floor trembling with the jump of one kid or one average grown up. The trembling is greater if it's in a hard surface - that is exactly what they ask...there, I must dig some more when I have the time.

Regards,
Posted by Rui Miguel Fernandes  on  Sat Sep 24, 2005  at  12:14 AM
Hey,
Ok so this won't help a bit, but what really needs to be moved are the people's MINDS not the earth's orbit. Now, this thing people will really remember, and the effect can only be beneficial.

Tore
Posted by Tore Johnsen  on  Sat Sep 24, 2005  at  07:55 AM
Hey what up
Posted by Baby J  on  Mon Oct 10, 2005  at  04:01 PM
I just wanna say that if it works or not i dont know how it can harm you! juat try it if works YUPI if it doesnt at least you didnt spent the day looking to the computer!
Posted by tixa  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  04:43 PM
Oh, It'll work. Trust me, it always works.
Posted by Carter S  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  11:26 PM
Does it count if you use a trampoline? 😉
Posted by PD  on  Wed Jan 04, 2006  at  02:05 PM
%-P

You're all retarded! This thing is going to be sweet!
Posted by Shananna  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  02:46 PM
so you are saying that 30,000,000 ton (assuming the average person is 50kg each - very reasonable) of force on a portion of the earth is not going to do anything?

righto... fucken retards
Posted by logik  on  Tue Feb 07, 2006  at  04:53 PM
Wow Logik! I didn't think any one could use such profound words like that. Good Job!

I believe that it would cause some type of vibration, or more. But it won't stop Global Warming.
Posted by Name Here  on  Tue Feb 07, 2006  at  05:47 PM
geez, you guys suk if you think you can just jump on me and get away with it, i'll spew molten lava all ova yur asses
Posted by Tha earth  on  Sun Mar 05, 2006  at  11:08 AM
well the earth weighs
(5,972,000,000,000,000,000,000) metric tons

so if you think that the weight of all humans is significant think again its about
0,000000000004% of the earths mass...
Posted by Tore  on  Sun Mar 05, 2006  at  12:50 PM
I Think this will work.

600,000,000 x 50kg = 30,000,000,000kg (30,000,000 ton)

The
Posted by Lucas Ott  on  Sun Apr 16, 2006  at  06:03 PM
First the mass of the people is too little to influence the Orbit .
Second - mass doesn't matter - it's like lifting yourself by pulling your hair up .
(despite, all WJD believers could try it 😊 )
Posted by ur4ll s2peed  on  Sun Apr 23, 2006  at  10:47 AM
this is gonna work, i mean come on, i weigh 400 lbs., if 600,000,000 people do it, itll move anything,
you guys are just trying to spoil the fun








w/e,
Posted by yo mama  on  Wed Apr 26, 2006  at  05:44 PM
How many millions of tons does the Earth weigh and how fast is it moving? This would be how many ton/miles? To do anything to Earth's rotation the number of ton/miles would have to be reasonably close to that number. And as far as stopping global warming, or creating a more homogenous climate how will people in the air - regardless of how many there are - do this? If I remember rightly, wasn't Hands Across America supposed to create world peace or some such? It is this sort of hoo-ha that discredits any investigation into alternatives that are in the least unconventional.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Wed Apr 26, 2006  at  07:24 PM
who ever like came up with like this like idea is like a like genious!!! LIKEEE
Posted by WHOO!  on  Tue May 16, 2006  at  02:05 PM
We're all gonna die! it doesn't matter! shame on those who rule the world with no respect for it. This is your penishment, upss punishment!!! JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!
Posted by eristoff  on  Thu May 25, 2006  at  05:00 AM
hello

um im not so smart actually im like 15 🙄 and i found out about this world jump day becouse our cience teacher told us about it and i was thinking if all those ppl jump wouldn't that cause an earthquake or tsunami or something that might get things even worse :gulp: i mean damn! and ive seen some many immature replys like " man this is gonna rock" oe something like that and i though poor loose what if we DIE?!! lol well not so bad like were gonna die but maybe something bad coudls happen 😖
Posted by Nika  on  Tue May 30, 2006  at  09:34 PM
I think you should all just forget about it.
Posted by a person with a life  on  Tue Jun 06, 2006  at  07:32 AM
I think that it is going to throw the whole world out of orbit. Then you will be sorry. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.
Posted by mimi  on  Tue Jun 06, 2006  at  07:35 AM
its on my birthday n i cant wait ..hehe n wen u jump say hapopy birthday jarrod
Posted by jarrod  on  Wed Jun 07, 2006  at  08:17 AM
Of course nothing will happen. Remember the Guinness toast? It was fun. So when the time comes, I am jumping... wot the hell.

500 million people jumping at the same time is no different than one guy jumping 500 million times, so get busy!

Unfortunately, the Earth is going to smak you in the ass as hard as you kicked it in the face. Result: nothing.

Pretending though... You would jump at noon and give a solid duck at midnight, do this every day. Though the duck doesn't seem as convincing, it's about as effective.

BUT!!! If we all (all Earthlings) sat down at the same moment, the Earth would rotate faster. If we cut down all the trees and knocked all the buildings down at the same time the Earth would spin even faster! ...shortening the day by at least .000000005 seconds!

If we all stretched as tall as we could we could slow it down too!

'nuff fun... I'm finishing up my perpetual motion machine.
Posted by Allen  on  Tue Jun 20, 2006  at  03:29 AM
Ok, this will only work if enough people do it, so if in the end it doesn't work...how are we going to know if enough people did it? It will only work if we get enough people to do it, if something this big can work that would be amazing, i think it could very well screw up everything and maybe end the world, call my psycho but i think it's worth that chance,i don't know about any of you, but i'd rather die of an explosion or something rather than frying to death....
Posted by PicKles  on  Tue Jun 20, 2006  at  08:22 AM
I find this rather amusing. You guys are arguing that this is a retarded idea. And you "spend quite some time" gathering scientific facts to try and prove it wrong. If this really was a retarded idea, which was already kind of a given, then why spend so much effort shooting down the idea? You guys are like the Christians. Never accepting shit that's slightly different from what you "know" is right.
Posted by ska  on  Mon Jul 03, 2006  at  05:32 PM
i love ska music...
Posted by sara  on  Mon Jul 03, 2006  at  05:36 PM
What if we all walk opposite in to the direction of the earths orbit, would we stay younger?
Posted by anjie  on  Tue Jul 11, 2006  at  10:31 AM
Let us think it's going to work, why are there always people there to try to look at the worst side of everything?
Posted by Sara  on  Wed Jul 12, 2006  at  12:39 PM
haha, funny and strong arguments from both sides, but in reality, the magnitude of this jump will not change the earth's orbit...EVER...maybe just a little tickle...😊
Posted by Daivy  on  Thu Jul 13, 2006  at  05:54 AM
I don't think this project is about changing Earth's orbit. I think this an attempt to reunite people all over the world so we understand that we're all the same and together we can try to make a difference. I don't think it'll change an inch of our orbit, but I'll jump to show my belieth that the world can be a better place
Posted by Henry  on  Sun Jul 16, 2006  at  07:33 PM
Hah! We couldn't even get Hands Across America to work, how do you expect to get everyone on the planet to jump at the exact same time? It's ludicrous to even consider it.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Mon Jul 17, 2006  at  09:36 AM
"OK, here are some quick calcs:

Assume the average human can jump up by 30 centimeters (vertical shift of the center of mass). Also, assume the average human weighs 70kg. I'm going to ignore the 600 million figure from their website and substitute 6 billion (if everyone jumped), and assume that somehow, everyone jumped from the same side of the world. This means a total mass of jumping people of 4.20*10^11 kg. The earth has a mass of 5.98*10^24kg. So, the earth would move 7.02*10^-14 times as far as the people did. The people jumped 30 centimeters, so the earth would move 2.11*10^-14 m. The size of a proton is roughly 10^-15 m. So, the earth would move the equivalent distance of 20 protons. Not too encouraging...Also, once people were pulled back down by gravity, the earth would return to its previous position, resulting in a final displacement of zero."Cjl - BAUTF
Posted by Ed  on  Mon Jul 17, 2006  at  10:26 PM
i think national jump day will b fun does anyone no how to register?
Posted by claire  on  Tue Jul 18, 2006  at  05:00 PM
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