How is the energy transfered back to the Moon

Forestman

I know from reading that the Moon slows down the Earth's rotation by creating friction on the ocean floor by causing the tibes, and as a result of this the Moon gains energy and moves farther out into space. What I don't understand is though, is that when the Earth slows down how does it transfer that energy to the Moon?

DaveC426913

It's not the Earth slowing that transfers energy to the Moon, it's the friction - both ways. If the Earth were a perfect sphere of uniform density, the Moon would not gain energy from it.

The mountains and other protruberances on the Earth pull on the Moon, giving a kick in the direction of Earth's rotation. This accelerates the Moon in its orbit. Accelerating something in its orbit vqause it to move into a higher orbit

granpa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon#Ocean_tides

DaveC426913

Yeah, the second paragraph of that section describes it pretty well, particularly the part about why the tidal bulge of Earth is ahead of the Earth-Moon line, causing the Moon to be pulled forward in its orbit.