Admin What force attracts the moon to the Earth?
gravitational force
Consider the system of the earth and the moon. Because of the gravitational force every object near the earth is forced towards the earth, even the objects which are very far away from the earth. So, the gravitational force which earth attracts the moon, the moon attracts the earth with the same force.
Is the moon being pulled towards Earth?
For the last few billion years the Moon’s gravity has been raising tides in Earth’s oceanswhich the fast spinning Earth attempts to drag ahead of the sluggishly orbiting Moon. The result is that the Moon is being pushed away from Earth by 1.6 inches (4 centimeters) per year and our planet’s rotation is slowing.
Does the Moon pull harder than the Earth?
Gravitational pull is affected by mass and distance. Since the moon’s mass does not change, the moon’s distance between Earth and the moon is the main consideration for the strength of lunar gravity. Earth exerts a gravitational pull on the moon 80 times stronger than the moon’s pull on the Earth.
Why do we only see 1 side of the moon?
The Moon orbits Earth once every 27.3 days and spins on its axis once every 27.3 days. This means that although the Moon is rotating, it always keeps one face toward us. Known as “synchronous rotation,” this is why we only ever see the Moon’s nearside from Earth.
Why does the Moon move away from the Earth?
Also, since part of the force is a sideways force, the moon will change direction. This is what happens with most orbits. The moon moves closer to the Earth and speeds up as it does so. As the moon moves away from the Earth, the opposite happens.
How does gravitational force affect the speed of the Moon?
Well, part of the gravitational force is in the same direction as the velocity, the moon will increase in speed. Also, since part of the force is a sideways force, the moon will change direction. This is what happens with most orbits. The moon moves closer to the Earth and speeds up as it does so.
Is the moon really that far away from the Earth?
Yes, the moon is really that far away from the Earth. You never see it this way in textbooks because it is too hard to see. Here is the Earth-moon with the moon only 1/5 th the distance it is suppose to be (but the correct relative size). Here you can see the red arrow represents the gravitational force on the moon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybkFLsBFLQ