If the Sun and the Moon are responsible for the tides on the Earth, why don't I see tides on a glass of water left untouched on the kitchen counter for 24 hours? Shouldn't my glass of water show the effects of the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, just like the oceans?
2007-07-28 08:54:10 · 7 answers · asked by LJ 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The reason you don't see tides in a glass of water is that the glass is very small. The Earth has tides because it is large enough that different parts of the Earth are at significantly different distances from the Sun and Moon.
For example, the Earth's diameter is about 8,000 miles. The Moon is about 239,000 miles from the Earth (center to center). So, the closest part of the Earth is 235,000 miles from the Moon's center, while the furthest part is 243,000 miles from the Moon's center. This is a 3.4% difference in distance, which gives the Moon-side oceans 6.5% more gravity than the oceans on the opposite side. This is a substantial difference.
A glass of water, however, is only a few inches across. The change in Moon gravity across a few inches is extremely small, so no tides are seen.
2007-07-28 09:20:42 · answer #1 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your glass of water is actually affected! It's just on a Molecular level that you can't see without an electron type microscope. Also, Tides are caused by a Mass of water being pulled toward a specific area. Small amounts of water have nowhere else to go inside the glass
2007-07-28 15:58:53 · answer #2 · answered by Vik C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compare the quantity of water in the ocean and glass. The tides are also in the same proportion.
2007-08-01 06:45:00 · answer #3 · answered by Joymash 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a lot more water in the oceans, so there is a larger effect. On the kitchen counter there is an effect but it is so minuscule that we fail to notice it.
2007-07-28 16:23:12 · answer #4 · answered by nate q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the larger the mass.. the larger the gravitational force... mass of water in a glass is too small.
2007-07-28 16:02:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is affected, but the effect is so small it is impossible to see.
2007-07-28 16:01:37 · answer #6 · answered by random person 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure it is there, just to infinitesimal to be seen by the naked eye. (Is there such a thing as a nude eye?)
2007-07-28 15:57:37 · answer #7 · answered by bigjohn B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋