so space is a false vacuum, theres a few atoms per cubic meter. so doesnt that mean as the earth spins and travels around the sun its very very slowing slowing down due to the tiny amount of friction. in 4 billion years could 1 day be 25 hours instead of 24?
2007-10-07 13:04:57 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well, technically, yes. But actually, most of the measurable, maybe *all* of the measurable, slowdown comes from the tidal forces of the moon, and friction caused by water.
HTH
Charles
2007-10-07 13:08:56 · answer #1 · answered by Charles 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The cause of the Earth's rotation slowing is tidal breaking with the Moon. The gravity of the Moon raises tides on Earth, and the bulge of the tides makes the Earth's gravity SLIGHTLY off center resulting in some energy from Earth's rotation being transferred to the Moon. The result is the Moon is gaining orbital energy and orbiting out away from Earth a few inches per year, while Earth's day gets longer by a tiny fraction of a second every year.
2007-10-07 22:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earth's slowing rotation has nothing to do with friction in space, it is due to the tides.
The moon raises tides in the water (and the solid body) of the Earth, and as the ocean scrapes against the shallower parts of the shore it causes friction.
That friction of the moving water against the ocean floors is what is causing the Earth's rotation to slow (at the rate a few seconds per century).
In addition, Earth's rotation drags the position of the tidal bulge ahead of the position directly under the Moon. As a result, there is a fair amount of Earth's mass in the bulge that is offset from the line through the centers of the Earth and Moon. Because of this offset, there is torque between the Earth and the Moon. This accelerates the Moon in its orbit, and decelerates the rotation of the Earth (to conserve the total momentum of the Earth-Moon system).
2007-10-07 20:23:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Charles is correct, most of the slowing of the Earth's rotation is due to tidal drag. After several billion years the Earth would actually be tidally locked with the Sun (same side always facing sunward). Of course, by then the Sun will have gone nova and burnt the Earth to ashes.
2007-10-07 20:23:34 · answer #4 · answered by eagedeon 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes.
Also because the Earth is still collecting matter falling into it as cosmic particles and meteorites, thus increasing its mass.
2007-10-07 20:10:57 · answer #5 · answered by PragmaticAlien 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋