Why does it seem like we always see the same side of the moon?

Question

The 'man in the moon' face doens't change...I would expect it to rotate at a slightly different rate than Earth?

Answer 1

The Moon definitely has to rotate to keep one face toward the Earth. If the Moon didn't rotate, we could see all parts of it as it revolved through its orbit.

Get a volunteer to the the Earth for you, and you pretend to be the Moon. Walk in a circle around the Earth, and always keep facing the Earth. Now, what do you see in the background? You'll see different parts of the room as you go around. This proves that you are rotating.

Now, try walking around the Earth without rotating; that is, always face one wall of your room as you move in a circle. Now, does the Earth only see one face of you? Or can they see all sides of you?

You can trade places, and play the Earth while the other person is the Moon, and see what happens!

Answer 2

The reason the moon's rotation is the same as its revolution is tidal forces from the earth. The earth and moon both tug at each other, but the earth's force on the moon is much larger and over time has synchronized its orbit in this way.

Answer 3

The moon rotates about its axis at the exact same rate as it takes to revolve around the earth. This is no coincidence. It is due to a phenomenon called tidal locking. Tidal locking is analogous to a round object floating in water. The heavy end will always point downwards.

Answer 4

It's because we always see the same face. The Moon rotates about its axis a the same pace it rotates around the Earth. So it always present the same side to us.

Try walking around a fixed point facing it constantly.

Answer 5

The Moon, of course, rotates--at the same speed as it orbits the Earth. So, in the 27.32 days it takes the Moon to go around Earth, the Moon also spins about its axis one full revolution. That's why we always see the same face of the Moon.

Answer 6

seem up the evolution of the earth and moon orbital equipment. that's evolution of orbital systems, not in any way bearing directly to organic determination and biology. A satellite tv for pc that's spinning relative to its discern generates drag from tidal forces and could tend to grow to be geosynchronous. maximum moons interior the photograph voltaic equipment are like this because of the fact there has exceeded sufficient time for this to happen. The moon's orbit is likewise extremely around (0.06). It does not mean it became into placed there and set in action. that's surely a extremely extreme eccentricity besides. the present hypothesis of massive effect helps a variety of around orbit because of the fact the moon formed from a hoop equipment that became into itself circularised by using tidal forces. The moons orbit is likewise extremely on the element of the two the rotational axis of the Earth itself and the airplane of its orbit around the solar. wager what - the impactor that formed the moon might have come variety of from the airplane of that orbit AND, regardless of what course it got here from, it would have shifted the rotational axis of the Earth in direction of the inclination of the destiny lunar orbit because of the conservation of angular momentum. You, see, you do not choose one possibility in one thousand million for issues like this to happen. often times they only of course pass interior the course they do. there is not any 'possibility' approximately it and actually no magic.

Answer 7

Because we *do* always see the same side of the Moon. The orbital period and rotational period of the Moon are the same.


Doug

Answer 8

Actually, the moon is locked into place by our gravity, so you see the exact same side. It doesn't rotate, but does revolve around the Earth,

Answer 9

It doesn't seems. it is actually like that..

The speed of moon to revolve around own axis and to revolve around earth is same. That is why there is only one side of moon that we can see.

Answer 10

Nope the same side faces earth no matter were you happen to be