why does moon face only 1 side to earth??

Answer 1

Because the moon rotates exaclty once per orbit around the earth.

Answer 2

The moon is slightly oblong (egg shaped) with the long axis pointing to the Earth. (The ruler example above is a good analogy.) If the Moon rotated on its axis faster than once per orbital revolution about the Earth, the body of the Moon would be 'squished' like a rubber ball is if you roll it between your hands. This constant squishing and stretching would heat up the body of the Moon, by friction, and this friction would slow down the Moon's rotation until its rotation speed became equal to its orbital period. In other words, the rotational energy of the Moon would slowly be converted into heat energy inside the Moon.

By the way, the Earth is also stretched and squished by the gravity of the Moon; we call this the tides, and the Earth has tides not only in its oceans (relatively easy to see) but also tides in the rocks themselves, which can only be observed with sensitive measuring devices. So, the Earth's rotation is also slowing down by friction, and eventually our day will be many weeks long, to match the orbital period of the Moon. When this happens, a person on the Moon will always see the same face of the Earth.

Answer 3

The reason that one side of the moon is never visible from the Earth is because the moon spins once on its axis in precisely the same amount of time it takes to revolve around the Earth. Because the gravitational force of the Earth on the moon is greater than vice versa, the moon experiences the greater braking effect. Over time, the moon's rotation has progressively slowed until the rate of rotation matches the rate at which the bulge moves around the body.

Answer 4

The moon rotates only once in the time it takes to go around the earth. If you walk around a table, always facing the table, you will find you have to rotate once all the way around by the time you go all the way around the table.

Answer 5

Synchronous rotation, In astronomy, synchronous rotation is a planetological term describing a body orbiting another, where the orbiting body takes as long to rotate on its axis as it does to make one orbit; and therefore always keeps the same hemisphere pointed at the body it is orbiting.

The Moon is in synchronous rotation about the Earth. So we allways see the near side and the other side is know as the dark side.

Answer 6

One side of the moon is a little more massive than the other: the side facing us.

This more massive side is thus pulled to be facing us....like holding a ruler close to one end and noting how the more massive end will be pulled towards the earth with more force than the less massive end.

Answer 7

Because the period it takes to revolve around the earth is also the period it takes to rotate around its own axis.

Answer 8

It doesn't rotate like the earth does.

Answer 9

thats like asking why you cant see someones face and the back of their head together!?

Answer 10

It is shy.