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

This Month's Specials

Air Assault Task Force- Save $8.00
Bronze- Save $10.00

   







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

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #39  
Old January 10th, 2004, 12:14 AM
Suicide Junkie's Avatar
Suicide Junkie Suicide Junkie is offline
Shrapnel Fanatic
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,451
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Suicide Junkie is on a distinguished road
Default Re: OT: Earth\'s orbit changing?

Quote:
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).
The tidal forces between the earth and moon have no effect on our distance from the sun.

It does cause the moon to spiral outwards and the Earth's rotation (length of day/night) to slow, though.

The tides induced by the sun are a smaller effect, and those forces are exerted on a much heavier body...
If I recall the spin directions correctly, the solar tides would tend to push the earth in an outward spiral...
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 07:25 PM.


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