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4 votes
1 answer
164 views

Would the Moon move away if the Earth were frozen with no liquid tide?

The moon is moving further from the Earth. To the extent that after 600 million years we will no longer enjoy full solar eclipses as it will be too far away to completely block the sun. The reason the ...
Francis Cagney's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
78 views

What happened to Newton 3rd law if our Moon is moving away at 1.5" yearly? [closed]

Our Moon is going away and I read that it is the culprit is our ocean, but then what happens to Newton 3rd law there should be an equal and opposite forces too so where's that? Is it absorbed by the ...
user6760's user avatar
  • 13k
20 votes
1 answer
2k views

If the tidal bulge on the earth speeds the moon up, how does the moon move to a higher orbit?

I understand that the moon causes a tidal bulge on Earth, and this tidal bulge moves slightly ahead of the moon due to Earth's rotation. When reading about why the moon is moving away from the Earth, ...
WillowRook's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
136 views

Will the moon ever proceed to lose its orbit and hit the earth?

Assume that the moon it orbiting the earth in a circular trajectory. It will experience an acceleration directed towards the centre of the earth given by $\frac{GM}{R^2}$ where $G$ is the universal ...
Orpheus's user avatar
  • 335
0 votes
1 answer
70 views

Has anyone experimented with simulating moon lighting?

Has anyone (in general) experimented with simulating moon lighting? It means the following. A gray ball is illuminated with light with a brightness equal to that of the sun. And at the corresponding ...
Vladimir Orlov's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
193 views

Which parts of the electromagnetic spectrum cannot be used for remote sensing of the Earth system and why? Is that different on the moon? Why?

Which parts of the electromagnetic spectrum cannot be used for remote sensing of the Earth system and why? Is that different on the moon and if yes, why?
Mahdieh Taheri's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
671 views

How exactly does the Moon stabilizes Earth axial tilt?

There are many references regarding the Moon stabilizing the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis. I'd like to see some support for that claim, more than non-sequitur handwaving "Moon causes tides,...
Michael's user avatar
  • 1,951
1 vote
0 answers
65 views

The radius of Earth is 4 times the radius of the moon. Estimate the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon [closed]

I have derived an expression here which just needs the ratio of the densities of the Earth and its moon. My question is how do I go about finding this ratio or is there another way to approach this ...
Daniel Williams Ruiz's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
22 views

Centre of Gravity of Earth-Moon Elevator [closed]

Suppose you have a cylindrical elevator that resembles a rod of mass $m$, cross-sectional area $A$ and uniform density $\rho$, with a length $L$ spanning the distance between the Earth and the Moon. ...
Chung Ren Khoo's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
52 views

Why is the time difference of equal tide states not 50 minute if one lunar day is 24 hour and 50 minutes?

I do understand that tidal forces are caused by de difference of gravitational force between both opposite points of the earth where a bulge is formed. I do understand that a lunar day is ruffle 24 ...
Kagawa Kisho's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
60 views

If the Earth and the Moon were smaller, would moon tides be more or less intense?

If the Earth and Moon were smaller (and everything on them too, but keeping the same average density and the same "relative" distances, I mean... the same proportions!), would the tides ...
jainemarie's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
127 views

How does the moon affect the position of zero gravity in the Earth?

I am interested in the position of the point of zero gravity within the Earth as a function of the gravity of the moon. Take the example of the moonless Earth. The position of zero gravity would be ...
Spigel's user avatar
  • 201
0 votes
1 answer
319 views

NASA's explanation on tidal acceleration

I've found an animation in NASA's website, illustrating tidal acceleration effect between the moon and earth. It's the forth animation from the top in this page: https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-in-motion/...
Shai Yefet's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
41 views

Earth, Moon, gravitatioal pull

Does the gravitational pull that causes tides, also affect the Earth's land mass. Does it affect the atoms, molecules, is there a slight bulge to the actual Earth / Land itself?
Joe Saraceni's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is it a coincidence that distance between Sun and Earth=(Distance between Earth and Moon)*(365.25+24) or is there any logical reasoning behind it? [closed]

Here $365.25$ days is the time taken for Earth's Revolution around the Sun while $24$ hours is the Earth's rotation.
niharika nikku's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

What would happen if I shot a near-light-speed bullet at the moon? [closed]

What would happen if I shot a bullet at 90% of light speed from earth to the moon? Would it make it through the atmosphere? Would it have any negative effects on the earth's atmosphere as it passes ...
CiurkitboyN's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
200 views

Is there a correlation between the Earth's spin, the moon, and temperature?

Based on NASA's arcticle, changes to land, ice sheet, ocean, and mantle flow affect Earth's spin. Does the moon's elliptical orbit around Earth also affect Earth's spin? What effect does distance play?...
Obsidian Jackal's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
90 views

Will a satellite orbiting the moon have a tidal locked orbit?

Suppose an artificial satellite is launched to orbit the moon. Ignore 3-body problem issues, just assume it follows a roughly titled elliptical orbit relative to the plane cutting through earth's ...
abnry's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
1 answer
330 views

Why are the Earth and Moon so different?

The suggestion was made that the Earth and the Moon are two parts of a once whole object. If that is true then they must share the same basic composition. They also receive fairly similar amounts of ...
Wookie's user avatar
  • 740
0 votes
2 answers
829 views

The role of the Sun in spring and neap tides

I am trying to understand how the Sun affects tides on the Earth's oceans and seas. It is quite clear that when the Moon is in the first and in the third quarter, the Sun's and the Moon's ...
DavideM's user avatar
  • 135
0 votes
2 answers
571 views

In the difference between the sun and moon's tidal effects on earth, is density or distance a larger factor?

This question is inspired by the (now looking at it, improper use of, my bad) comments section here in Physics SE. I'm not sure I could explain better than our short discussion does below: No, the ...
TCooper's user avatar
  • 161
1 vote
1 answer
64 views

How much the Earth atmosphere oscillates due to Moon tidal force and does this produces winds?

As there is the tidal force of the Moon exerted on the Ocean water I supose there must be some force acting to the Earth's atmosphere. So when the atmosphere starts falling down as the Moon is ...
Krešimir Bradvica's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
58 views

I want to know about the synodic and sidereal months. Why is there a difference between the two? [closed]

I want to know about the synodic and sidereal months. Why is there a difference between the two?
Ashwini Kumar's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
137 views

Moon is receding from Earth approximately 4cm per year [closed]

According to the theory of relativity the universe is styled as a fabric which is depressed by a large mass and a moon, still following a straight path ever 'curves inward' toward the large mass. Now ...
Emanuel Tonna's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
216 views

Would the moon eventually hit the Earth?

The moon is rotating around the earth in elliptic or approximately circular orbit with speed $v$. Its acceleration have two components tangential and radial one. It is the radial acceleration ...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
171 views

Is gravitational energy usable and could it be depleted?

Let's take for example a tidal stream generator. We know that tides are a consequence of the Moon gravity, we know that mass is connected with gravity, so is this mean that (1) we use Gravitational ...
mousesanya's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is the Moon's rotation affected by Earth's?

There is a lot written on the moon affecting the Earth's rotation but not so much the other way around. I know that moon has its own rotation: Tidal locking is the phenomenon by which a body has ...
Grasper's user avatar
  • 357
1 vote
1 answer
550 views

Conservation of Angular Momentum -- Earth-Moon System -- Earth spin backwards?

I am developing an exhibit for a museum. We want to show how the Earth's spin rate changes as the Moon drifts farther and farther out from the Earth. The visitor has a slider they can move to set ...
QuietPixel's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
49 views

How fast would an object at cruising altitude (around 10,600 m) need to travel to stay on the opposite side of the Earth to the Moon? [closed]

I am trying to figure out how fast an object will have to travel (at a height around 10,600 m) to never be in the presence of the moon. Meaning the object will always be on the opposite side of the ...
Bolwic's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
32 views

If the Earth would change into a ball of water, how wil its form develop, considering only the Sun's and Moon's influence? [duplicate]

Let's fantasize that the Earth changes in a non-rotating ball of water. And let's assume the only gravitational influences on it are those of the Sun and Moon. What will happen to the form of the ...
Deschele Schilder's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
354 views

What happens to the water on the surface of the Earth if the Earth is not rotating about its axis in the Earth-Moon system?

Suppose the Earth is not rotating. As usual, the Moon follows its normal path around the Earth. Let's assume it's a circular motion and that there are no other gravitational influences. A test ...
Deschele Schilder's user avatar
-1 votes
3 answers
947 views

Confusion about angular momentum of earth-moon system

My assumed definition of angular momentum is the sum over $i$ of $L_i =r_i\times{\omega_i}\times{r_i}$ for each particle about some origin. We have two spheres rotating about the centre of orbit. For ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
134 views

Why does not the Moon escape from the Earth? [duplicate]

We know that Gravitational Force that is applied by the sun on the moon is greater than that by the earth on the moon. My Question is then why does not the moon escape from the earth and go towards ...
Schl....r's user avatar
  • 159
41 votes
7 answers
9k views

Why does the full Moon appear?

I know that the full Moon appears when Sun, Moon and Earth are in a straight line, but if we consider that they are in straight line, why is the Moon illuminated? I mean to say that Earth should ...
Awesome boy's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
473 views

If gravity can be disrupted by larger forces, why does the moon orbit the Earth instead of the Sun? [duplicate]

I read an thread on this site about how a larger gravitational pull can overpower a smaller gravitational pull. I took this to mind, and I started wondering why the moon orbits the Earth instead of ...
umntc's user avatar
  • 285
1 vote
4 answers
734 views

Does escape velocity require you to cross Moon's orbit?

Escape velocity is the velocity required to project an object from an object's (here, the Earth's) surface so that it "escapes" the gravity of that object (or in our case, the Earth's gravity). Now, ...
aravk33's user avatar
  • 115
19 votes
3 answers
5k views

How can a full moon be seen south of an observer's location?

I know this seems like a simple question, but I'm trying to debate with a flat earth theorist. I asked him to explain why can the ISS visibly be seen orbiting the Earth with the naked eye, and he put ...
Atominator's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
381 views

Expanding Moon's orbit and newtonian mechanics

the 2 body problem of earth and moon is suppose to be perfectly described by Newtonian mechanics / Kepler's laws. How ever the moon's orbit is been moving away from earth in contradiction to the ...
jimjim's user avatar
  • 1,447
1 vote
1 answer
670 views

Does Earth rotate around its geometrical axis OR the center of mass of Earth-Moon system?

I just came to know about barycentre. What exactly is this?
Zaid AAmir's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
25 views

What are ShadowBands during SolarEclipse and how can it be reproduced?

I recently got to know about different phases of a solar eclipse and its impact on Earth and its living creatures.., but one of the most interesting and not well explained phenomenon is the ...
Gowrav's user avatar
  • 11
13 votes
6 answers
9k views

Is the Moon in a "Freefall" Around the Earth? [duplicate]

The force of gravity keeps our Moon in orbit around Earth. Is it correct to say that the Moon is in “free fall” around Earth? Why or why not? I think the answer is yes. The moon is falling towards ...
Max's user avatar
  • 243
37 votes
6 answers
12k views

If the moon had a mirror surface, would the earth be equally illuminated as by the sun during full moon, or would it require a different mirror shape?

Suppose the apparent diameters of the sun and the moon are exactly the same (which in fact very close to the real situation). If the moon had a perfect mirror surface, would the reflected visible ...
Deschele Schilder's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why don't Moon collide with Earth but revolves due to gravity? [duplicate]

As we know gravitational force is a central force so due to gravitational effect they must collide with each other but why they revolve?
yogendra saini's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
5k views

Moon vs Sun size and distance 400 times

I have seen below statement, and it doesn't sound right: The Sun and Moon seem to have the same size because of this amazing coincidence: the moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun and 400 closer ...
zx8754's user avatar
  • 135
1 vote
2 answers
360 views

What changes about a helium-filled balloon on the surface of the moon?

In terms of air pressure, I think that the pressure inside the balloon should be equal to the air pressure outside so that it does not burst. So how will a helium-filled balloon behave on the moon in ...
Utsav's user avatar
  • 201
1 vote
0 answers
79 views

On the formation of Earth's moon

NASA states that : The moon was formed ~4.5 billion years ago, about 30–50 million years after the origin of the Solar System, out of debris thrown into orbit by a massive collision between a ...
shrey's user avatar
  • 111
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Different precision for masses of moon and earth online

The Google search page for "mass of moon" shows a value with nine significant digits of precision. The corresponding page for "mass of earth" shows a value with only four significant digits. (The ...
pr1268's user avatar
  • 1,857
12 votes
4 answers
3k views

If we were on the Moon would Earth appear to be in motion or at rest?

If we were on the moon would earth appear stationary or would it appear to move. I think it must be stationary because moon is in sychronous rotation with earth.
Matt's user avatar
  • 644
3 votes
1 answer
651 views

Is moon in perfect tidal lock with earth?

Moon appears to be facing its same side to earth throughout its orbit around earth. This is said to be because of tidal locking , i.e. the moon rotates at the same rate as it revolves around the ...
user1062760's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
296 views

How much mass must Earth lose to lose its Moon?

Maybe I am wrong about the basic concept here, but for my curiosity: how much mass would need to leave the Earth (like satellites and rockets) to create an imbalance between the Earth and Moon so that ...
Digvijay Yadav's user avatar

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