Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Slava Vitsev on 15/12/2010 01:30:02

Title: Why the Moon is moving away from Earth?
Post by: Slava Vitsev on 15/12/2010 01:30:02

Slava Vitsev  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi, I'm Slava from Moscow.

My question is:Why the Moon is moving away from Earth?  This means that energy is added to the Earth-Moon system.  Where did it come from?  It would be logical to assume that tidal interaction should have the opposite effect and pick up energy from the system due to frictional heating of the rocks and tidal waves?

Good luck!

What do you think?

Title: Why the Moon is moving away from Earth?
Post by: SteveFish on 15/12/2010 02:51:08

Slava, you need to look at how tidal energy affects orbits. Tidal energy causes the earth moon orbit to become larger.