(please specify the term)
2007-02-22 01:41:15 · 6 answers · asked by P Zoe R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The moon follows a closed orbit so there can be no net work done. In other words, it traces out the same path over and over.
Over some small interval of time, the Moon's gravitational forces do the most work on the Earth's tides when it's at perigee.
You can't tie that to the phases of the Moon however. The phases depend on the angle between the Earth, Sun, and Moon and does not correlate to the Moon's perigee and apogee.
A sidereal month, the time it takes the Moon to complete one entire orbit (from perigee to perigee, if you wish), is 27.3 days.
A synodic month, the time it takes the Moon to cycle through its phases (from full moon to full moon, if you wish), is 29.5 days.
The difference is because the Earth and Moon have moved around the Sun during the period the Moon was orbiting the Earth.
2007-02-22 02:21:47 · answer #1 · answered by Bob G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon does not work. It is in a freefall orbit around the Earth, and does not need to exert any additional energy. What a lazy piece of rock!
2007-02-22 03:48:32 · answer #2 · answered by Tikimaskedman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon is pretty lackadaisical about work.
It usually goes through all it's phases without varying it's erg output.
2007-02-22 02:01:51 · answer #3 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon does no work and other than tidal effects, there are no forces on the moon while it orbits.
2007-02-22 01:48:14 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"moon work the hardest"? -- must be a riddle, not a science question. The moon is a lump of rock, it doesn't work.
2007-02-22 01:45:01 · answer #5 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the moon does not work, it just floats
2007-02-22 02:02:46 · answer #6 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋