Tidal Effects
Earth’s rotation is slowing (days getting longer)
- Friction of moving water (i.e. tides) on land
- creates heat
- rub your finger on a desk -- it will heat up and you’ll feel it
- Heat energy must come from Earth’s rotational energy
- The Law of Conservation of Energy
- firm law of Physics
- there is no free lunch!
- Therefore the rotation slows (less rot’n, less energy)
When will slowing stop?
- when rotation and Moon’s orbit are synchronous
- always the same face toward the Moon
- length of day = month
- permanent high tide toward Moon