I know the moon has an affect on large bodies of water creating high tide low tide...and I was just curious if it would affect the human body since we are made up of so much water
2006-09-24 07:13:07 · 4 answers · asked by hello 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Nope. The tidal force from the Moon on Earth exists because the Moon pulls more stongly on the "near" side of Earth than it does on the "far" side of Earth - therefore the tidal force depends on the size of Earth. You could calculate the tidal force on a person due to the Moon, but again it would depend on the difference in gravitational force from the Moon on one side of the person to the other. Even if we're talking about the top side (head) versus the bottom side (feet) that's not a very big difference! You could calculate it mathmatically, but we don't have any equipment that could actually detect it. It does not effect our bodies at all.
As to a woman's menstral cycle being tied to the phases of the Moon, it is simply a coincidence that the *average* woman's cycle is 4 weeks long. If the Moon had anything to do with it then all women would have a 4-week long cycle, which they don't. A "normal" cycle for a woman is anywhere between 3 and 6 weeks. And if the Moon had an effect, then all women would get their period at the same time, which they don't. And if the Moon had an effect, why would it just be on humans and not on other animals, too?
2006-09-24 10:13:11 · answer #1 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity affects all mass. The earth as well as the water bulges upward under the moon's pull, and you weigh a tiny bit less as well. We notice the effect most in tides because the water can slosh around relative to the ground, but it is pronounced enough that really precise measurement of level over large-building distances have to take it into account.
2006-09-24 14:35:01 · answer #2 · answered by virtualguy92107 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Large water bodies like oceans respond noticeably to the moon's gravitation, but the total mass of the water in the human body is so small, that the moon's gravitational effect on it is negligibly small, although not zero.
2006-09-24 14:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by Problem Child 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Women, in particular, are affected by the moon's phases. Our menstrual cycles are ruled by the moon, for example.
2006-09-24 16:19:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋