Attraction Forces During Total Eclipse: Sun, Moon, and Earth Explained

  • Thread starter zarmewa
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Astronomy
In summary: Milky Way, is not at issue. The Moon is orbiting the Earth because it is gravitationally bound to the Earth.
  • #1
zarmewa
44
0
Here is the summary of attraction forces (F = GMm/r2) during Total Eclipse when the Moon “M” is between Sun “S” and Earth “E”.
Sun (F1 = GMm/r2) Moon (F2= GMm/r2) Earth

(F1 = GMm/r2) = S - M = 4.1984 x 1020
(F2 = GMm/r2) = M - E = 2.2 x 10^20

Net force on the Moon= F3 = F1-F2= 4.1984 x 1020 Minus 2.2 x 1020 = 1.998 x 1020 towards Sun

At this point why Earth force the moon to revolve around its centre when the net force on the moon is much greater towards the sun ? Explain please. Pls also check the calculation. If we consider the Sun - Earth Force
(F4= GMm/r2) = S - E= 3.67 x 1022 , then

Net Force on the Moon = F3+F4=1.998 x 1020 Plus 3.67 x 1022 = 3.68 x 1022 towards Sun.
Please also note that force of attraction F = GMm/r2 between sun and moon in any case (perigee, apogee, average) is much greater than between moon and Earth F = GMm/r2 (perigee, apogee, average). So technically it should revolve around the sun in a separate orbit not earth. So why moon revolves around earth?

Here is the other Forum answer but I disagree because law of gravitation can not applied to the common center of gravity of two masses.
“Both Earth and moon are constantly revolving around the sun. They are also revolving around their common center of gravity as they move around the sun, but they constantly move around the sun.

Their speed of revolution and the vast amount of angular momentum keeps them from simply dropping like proverbial rocks into the sun.

Think of astronauts aboard the Space Station. They are weightless, yet they are just a hundred miles or so farther from the center of the Earth than you and me. Why? Why don't they fall?

The answer is that they ARE falling. But as fast as they fall, their momentum has carried them forward so that they endlessly fall around the earth, not into it. The same with the Earth and moon, relative to the sun, during a total eclipse and at all other times”.

So what do you suggest??
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
The answer from another forum you received seems correct, whether or not you agree.

The part you seem to be missing in your calculation is the fact that the Earth is falling towards the sun at approximately the same speed as the moon is. So you're right, the moon is accelerating towards the sun, but so is the Earth.
 
  • #3
As Jack said in post #2, you are ignoring that the Earth is also accelerating toward the Sun. What I suggest you do is account for the Earth's acceleration. In other words, you should be the acceleration of the Moon with respect to the Earth.

At the instant of a total eclipse, the Moon's acceleration with respect to the Earth is directed toward the Earth and is equal to

[tex]a_m =
\frac{G(M_e+M_m)}{{r_m}^2}
- \frac{G M_s}{{r_e}^2}\left(\frac 1{(1-r_m/r_e)^2}-1\right)
\approx
\frac{G(M_e+M_m)}{{r_m}^2}
- 2\frac{G M_s}{{r_e}^2}\frac {r_m}{r_e}
[/tex]

where Ms, Me, and Mm are the masses of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, re is the distance between the Sun and the Earth, and rm is the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

When looked at in this light, the Sun's gravitational influence is small (about 1/90th) compared to that of the Earth.
 
  • #4
Sun--------(gm, wrt s=GMs/Rsm^2 )-------Moon-----(gm, wrt e=GMe/Rem2)-----Earth
gm, wrt s >>>> gm, wrt e , gm = accelaration of moon
Since no one agree to this, therefore would I be wrong to represent the same problem with escape velocity of moon Vem wrt to both sun and Earth when it is in between Earth and sun in total eclipse.

Sun-------(Vem, wrt s=2GMs/Rsm)1/2 -----Moon---(Vem, wrt e=2GMe/Rem)1/2---Earth

Vem, wrt s=(2GMs/Rsm)1/2 >>> Vem, wrt e=(2GMe/Rem)1/2
Vem, wrt s >>>> Vem, wrt e
Please check all the calculation and then you will know how many time it is greater. So Earth has to use extra force to escape moon from the sun gravity. So am I wrong to say that moon can not escape from sun at this point towards earth.
 
  • #5
So what? You are using the wrong metric. Nobody is claiming that the Moon, along with the Earth, and all of its artificial satellites, are not orbiting the Sun, or that they are not orbiting the Milky Way, or even some larger structure in space. The Moon is orbiting the Earth by virtue of a simple test: Is the Moon gravitationally bound to the Earth? That the Moon is also gravitationally bound to the Sun, or to the Milky Way, or something even larger, is irrelevant to the question of whether it is gravitationally bound to the Earth.
 

What causes the attraction forces between the Sun, Moon, and Earth during a total eclipse?

The attraction forces between the Sun, Moon, and Earth during a total eclipse are caused by the gravitational pull of these celestial bodies on each other. The Sun's massive gravitational force pulls on both the Moon and the Earth, while the Moon's gravitational force pulls on the Earth. These combined forces create the attraction that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth, and both the Moon and the Earth in orbit around the Sun.

Why do total eclipses occur?

Total eclipses occur when the Moon aligns perfectly between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the Sun's light from reaching the Earth. This alignment can only happen during a new moon phase, when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. This alignment is not a regular occurrence because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted, so the Moon usually passes above or below the Sun from our perspective on Earth.

How does the distance between the Sun, Moon, and Earth affect the attraction forces during a total eclipse?

The distance between the Sun, Moon, and Earth does have an impact on the attraction forces during a total eclipse. As the distance between two objects increases, the gravitational force between them decreases. Therefore, when the Moon is at its furthest point from the Earth (apogee) or the Sun is at its furthest point from the Earth (aphelion), the attraction forces between them will be slightly weaker compared to when they are at their closest points (perigee and perihelion).

Are there any other factors that can affect the attraction forces during a total eclipse?

Yes, there are other factors that can affect the attraction forces during a total eclipse. The shape and size of the Earth, Moon, and Sun can also impact the gravitational forces between them. Additionally, the presence of other celestial bodies, such as other planets or asteroids, can also influence the attraction forces during a total eclipse.

Why do we experience a period of darkness during a total eclipse?

During a total eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Earth. This results in a period of darkness on Earth, known as totality, where the Moon's shadow falls on the Earth's surface. This shadow is called the umbra and is surrounded by a lighter shadow called the penumbra. The size and shape of the umbra and penumbra are determined by the distance between the Sun, Moon, and Earth, as well as the relative sizes of these objects.

Similar threads

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
21K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
4
Views
8K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
21K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
11K
Back
Top