Gravitational Waves From Spin?

The earth drags the space time along in its rotation (action). Result, the rotation of the earth is slowing down slightly (reaction)?
- Eric Van Loocke (age 72)
Belgium

To the extent that the Earth is symmetrical, no. The spin slightly alters the gravitational effects, in a barely measurable way, but that doesn't radiate energy. It's sortof like how a spinning uniform charge has electric and magnetic fields but doesn't give off electromagnetic waves. The spinning things that do radiate a lot of gravitational wave energy are binary pulsars, which are not close to being symmetrical about the rotation axis. () In principle, the Earth should radiate a tiny, tiny amount due to the slight bumpiness of the surface. Any effect on the rotation rate is negligible compared to tidal effects from the Moon.

Mike W.

(published on 04/29/2014)