Final answer:
You might be taller in the morning due to spinal decompression that occurs while sleeping, which reduces the compressive force of gravity on the spine, allowing the spinal discs to expand.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason you might want to measure your height first thing in the morning relates to spinal decompression. During the day, the force of gravity compresses your spinal discs just a little, making you slightly shorter by the end of the day. When you sleep, your body is in a horizontal position, which reduces the effect of gravity on the spine. This allows the discs to absorb fluid and expand, restoring your full height overnight. This is why you might be taller in the morning.
Related Concepts
- Gravity and compression of spinal discs
- Diurnal variation in human height
- Measurement of height and its variations