Burning fossil fuels results in the conversion of these resources into water, carbon dioxide, and ash. However, the mass of the fossil fuels does not entirely disappear and remains on Earth. While a small fraction is released into the atmosphere as hydrogen or used in space missions, the majority of it stays put.
Despite the existence of roughly 1.5 trillion tonnes of fossil fuel reserves on Earth, this amount is minuscule compared to the overall mass of our planet. In fact, it represents less than one ten-billionth of one per cent of Earth’s mass. This information underscores how insignificant the loss of fossil fuels would be in terms of the planet’s overall weight.
To put this into perspective, shedding an eyelash results in losing 500 times more body weight proportionally than burning fossil fuels does to Earth’s mass. This shows that burning fossil fuels has a negligible effect on Earth’s overall weight.
If you have any science-related questions, feel free to reach out to us via email at questions@sciencefocus.com or through our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Be sure to include your name and location when submitting your inquiries.
For more fascinating science facts and information, be sure to visit our ultimate fun facts page for additional mind-blowing discoveries!
