.com.unity Forums
  The Official e-Store of Shrapnel Games

This Month's Specials

Raging Tiger- Save $9.00
winSPMBT: Main Battle Tank- Save $5.00

   







Go Back   .com.unity Forums > Shrapnel Community > Space Empires: IV & V

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #34  
Old January 9th, 2004, 04:51 PM

Lexicon Lexicon is offline
Private
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Lexicon is on a distinguished road
Default Re: OT: Earth\'s orbit changing?

To return to the origional topic:

The earth's orbit slowing down is part of the earth-moon-sun orbital system and conservation of angular momentum (Jupiter also has an influence). The short of it is, because of this dynamic, the earth moves slightly away from the sun over time which causes its orbit to slow down. This is a good thing, due to the fact that the sun is slowly heating up over time.

The longer explanation is that the tidal forces between the earth and the moon slow down the earths rotation which reduces its angular momentum, but angular momentum must be conserved so the earth moves farther from the sun (creating a longer angular arm). Moving away from the sun means the earth's orbit must slow down to remain stable (but not as much as the angular arm increases angular momentum).

Makes sense?
Reply With Quote
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2025, Shrapnel Games, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.