Our moon revolves around teh earth in the same direction as the Earth rotates around its axis. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes tides on Earth, which gradually slow down its rotation about its own axis. What consequence does this have for the Moon's angular momentum?
2007-03-01 10:28:52 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Hi. It is conserved and, as a result, the Moon's orbit gradually grows larger.
2007-03-01 10:32:44 · answer #1 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This causes the moon's angular momentum to increase. Why? Because the total angular momentum of the earth and moon must remain constant (This is the Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum). So due to tides, the earths angular momentum is gradually being transferrd to the moon, causing the moon to speed up (going along its orbit) as the earth's spin slows.
Something similar is also happening to the Earth due to the Sun's grip on the earth.
2007-03-01 19:03:24 · answer #2 · answered by J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋