Expanding earth theory
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
The most popular secular geological theory is unarguably plate tectonics, but it is not the only theory. Expanding earth theory, whose title explains itself, has some support from data, but is not considered a viable theory by most geologists. We will compare it to plate tectonics and Flood geology and analyze it critically in terms of real world data.
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Brief history
The first scientist credited with proposing that the diameter of the earth is not constant was Mr. I. O. Yarkovskii in 1888. Later scientists, such as Mr. Carey, built upon his work and tried to find evidence of a non-constant earth diameter. Mr. Carey's doctoral dissertation at the University of Sydney in 1938 was on this topic, but he removed it from consideration at the last minute after realizing it would cost him his doctorate.
| “ | Unfortunately, Carey's prescient and insightful hypothesis failed to gain acceptance because of this lack of a plausible causative mechanism.- Mr. Myers | ” |
The main problem with Carey's work is simply that he doesn't have a mechanism for expansion. He admitted this in his book "The Expanding Earth", but in recent years the mechanism called "accretion" has come onto the stage.[1]
Evidence for expansion?
One argument for expanding earth theory is the Grand Canyon. To quote Mr. Myer:
| “ | The fallacy of the nebular hypothesis is shown very clearly in the physiographic cross-section of the Grand Canyon cliffs in Northern Arizona and the photo shown below. These layers were laid down (accreted) as solid matter, and none show signs of having been melted at any time. These layers are positive evidence the Earth has grown steadily over time. | ” |
Mr. Myer is clearly assuming a constant rate of soil formation which is useless against a young earth creationist. This is a common mistake made by old earthers and evolutionists.
If expanding earth theory is correct, then the nebula hypothesis is wrong. The old earthers would be without a model for planet formation that works. In order to side step this, they would need to debunk this piece of evidence. The Nebular hypothesis says that planet where created by the "rapid" formation of molten bodies, but the expanding earth theory is far slower and created and paradox.
The answer is very simple really. Just admit that the layers were laid down quickly, but who is willing to do that?[2]
Another argument for an expanding earth is the theoretical modeling of plate movement. Asian/Australian trenches seem to match, thus suggesting they were once together, however this would require for the earth to be a single landmass.
Calculations of material from space
Mr. Meyer cites material from space as one of the mechanisms for global expansion. A cites a 1967 NASA report for the figure of 55,000-274,000 tons per day.(NASA, 1967) We will assume this figure as accurate and average the two extremes so as to not favor any side.
55,000 tons + 274,000 = 329,000
329,000 divided by 2 is 164,500. This is the average.
There are 365 days a year.
365 x 164,500 = 60,042,500
The is the amount per year.
The standard model secular model for the earth dates it around 4.6 billion year old, but the expanding earth model would allow for a much older earth. However, for the sake of convenience, we will use the 4.6 billion year figure.
4,600,000,000 years x 60,042,500 ton/year = 276,195,500,000,000,000 ton of material.
Let us compare this to the mass of the earth. The earth is 5.9736x1024kg.[3]
A ton is 907.18474 kg.
276,195,500,000,000,000 ton x 907.18474 kg/ton = 250,560,342,856,670,000,000 kg
250,560,342,856,670,000,000 kg divided by 5,973,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 = 4.2-5 = 0.0042%
Thus material from space of expand the size of the earth, in 4.6 billion years, assuming the figure cited are correct and the math is sound, by 0.0042% of the earth's present size. So 4.6 billion years from now, the earth will be 0.0042% larger then it is now.
Expanding earth theory and creationism
Is it possible to combine Flood geology and expanding earth geology? Is it logical? Is it reasonable? Many would say not. There are five reasons for this.
- The process of accretion is far to slow to have the planet only 6,000 years old. According to Mr. Myer, the man who proposed the process.
| “ | The dominant factor in global expansion today is the expanding molten core--melting its way upward towards the crust and creating new ocean floor when extruded from the ~65,000 km (~40,000 miles) of midocean ridges. In the last ~200 Ma these ridges have added more than 71% of new ocean surface area to the planet, increasing Earth's diameter by 40%. | ” |
It might be possible to mess around with the concept of the core, in order to find a fast mechanism, but this unlikely.
- Where did the water for the Flood come from? In an expanding earth model, the earth's original shape had no oceans (which clearly contradicts the Bible). In a YEC expanding earth model, the earth would have to have to produce enough water to cover an expanding earth in only a few thousands years. Is that possible?
Also, how would this alter the state of the springs of the great deep? If the mantle is expanding, then how can it hold in the water? One might side step this by claiming the expansion was only during the Flood.
- There are several reasons in general why expanding earth theories don't work. For example, its mechanism for the creation of mountains is highly unrealistic and there is no evidence for it what so ever. [4]
- If the different strata were laid down during the Flood, then there is no reason to believe that the earth is expanding. There just isn't any evidence for the expandsion, if you assume catastrophic
conditions.
Conclusion
Flood geology (catastrophic plate tectonics , hydroplate theory, and etc) is by far a better geological theory then expanding earth theory. An expanding earth just doesn't stand up to examination. It is disproved by lack of evidence and it has a unique moon problem.
Related References
- THE EARTH IS GROWING AND EXPANDING RAPIDLY by Lawrence S. Myers
- Expansion History by Lawrence S. Myers
- EXPANDING EARTH? by Bill Mundy. Origins 15(2):53-69 (1988).
- New Model of the Universe Videos by Neal Adams illustrating expanding Earth model.
- Dinosaur and the Expanding Earth: An Explanation For the Gigantic Scale of Dinosaurs By Stephen Hurrell
- Newkirk in Meteor Orbits and Dust, NASA, 1967
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