LEAP SECOND Meaning and
Definition
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A leap second is a unit of time adjustment introduced to account for the irregularities in the Earth's rotation. The Earth's rotation is not perfectly stable due to factors such as gravitational influences, tidal forces, and other geophysical events. As a result, the length of a day, defined as the 24-hour period of one complete rotation of the Earth on its axis, can vary slightly over time.
To compensate for these variations, leap seconds are periodically inserted into Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is the time standard used worldwide. UTC is an atomic time scale that accounts for the stability of atomic clocks and is kept in sync with the Earth's rotation.
When needed, a leap second is introduced by repeating or skipping a second at the end of either June 30 or December 31. This additional second is necessary to keep astronomical time, determined by the Earth's rotation, in agreement with atomic time. The decision to insert a leap second is made by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) based on monitoring the Earth's rotation.
The introduction of a leap second can have implications for various systems that rely on precise timekeeping, such as computer networks, telecommunications, and global navigation systems. To accommodate the leap second, these systems need to be programmed and configured accordingly, ensuring seamless synchronization with the adjusted time scale.
Common Misspellings for LEAP SECOND
- keap second
- peap second
- oeap second
- lwap second
- lsap second
- ldap second
- lrap second
- l4ap second
- l3ap second
- lezp second
- lesp second
- lewp second
- leqp second
- leao second
- leal second
- lea- second
- lea0 second
- leap aecond
- leap zecond
Etymology of LEAP SECOND
The word "leap second" combines two terms: "leap" and "second".
The term "leap" comes from the Old English word "hleapan", which means "to jump or spring quickly". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "hlaupan" and is related to words in other Germanic languages like German "laufen" and Dutch "lopen".
The word "second" originated from the Old French word "seconde", which comes from the Latin word "secunda". The Latin term signifies "a second division or part". It is derived from the Latin word "secundus", meaning "following" or "next".
The combination of these terms, "leap second", refers to an additional second introduced into Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to keep atomic time in line with the Earth's rotation.
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