Some climatologists say that our climate could be warm enough to melt the polar ice caps, sending the resulting water down towards the equator. If this were to happen, the length of the day would
A) Increase due to friction.
B) Increase due to angular momentum conservation.
C) Decrease due to mass loss.
D) Decrease due to work done by the ice.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The redistribution of mass from the polar regions towards the equator due to the melting of ice caps would lead to a conservation of angular momentum. This would cause the Earth to rotate more slowly, similar to a figure skater extending their arms to slow down their spin. As a result, the length of the day would increase.

Some Climatologists Say That Our Climate Could Be Warm Enough