How Does the Moon Influence Earth's Rotation and Orbit?

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    Gravitational Moons
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the influence of the Moon on Earth's rotation and orbit, particularly in relation to experimental setups involving magnets and rotating devices. Participants explore the gravitational effects of the Moon, including its pull at various distances, and seek data on the Earth-Moon distance over time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks information on the Earth-Moon distance and gravitational effects for experimental analysis, questioning when the gravitational pull is strongest.
  • Another participant asserts that the gravitational force is strongest when closest to the Moon, suggesting that this can be calculated based on distance.
  • A different participant cautions that experiments measuring small variations may be more influenced by the Earth's magnetic field than by the Moon's gravitational pull, especially during solar activity.
  • Some participants mention the Moon's role in stabilizing Earth's orbit and rotation, with one noting that the Moon prevents Earth from moving into the Sun over long timescales.
  • There is a suggestion that the Earth's distance from the Sun would remain stable regardless of the Moon's presence, though the axis of rotation may be affected.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the significance of the Moon's gravitational effects in relation to experimental measurements and the stability of Earth's orbit. There is no consensus on the implications of these effects or the best approach to measuring them.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for specific data on gravitational forces and distances, indicating potential limitations in available resources or databases for such information.

Rick James
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Hi all

Looking for some assistance if possible.

Astrophysics is not my field--so please be gentle with me, as I am totally ignorant in your discipline.

I’m doing experiments with magnets and rotating devices and would like to include the effect of drag and pull of the moon (at max and min.) in my data for analysis.


What I need is to know is were I could find information with regards to the Earth and moons distance at any point in time.

Also, the gravitational effects—example—at what point are they strongest and weakest.

Are they strongest at the point of the moons nearest approach or as the moon starts to move away.

I would like to be able to access the information ( —as in a database format ) at any point in time--eg. what would the value be --say--July 19, 2113 or August 05,2014.

I would also like to chart the data over time.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

R_I_C_K
 
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What does the gravitational pull of the moon have to do with your experiment? How accurate are you measuring?

Rick James said:
Hi all
Also, the gravitational effects—example—at what point are they strongest and weakest.

Are they strongest at the point of the moons nearest approach or as the moon starts to move away.

The force is strongest when you are closest to the moon.

I would like to be able to access the information ( —as in a database format ) at any point in time--eg. what would the value be --say--July 19, 2113 or August 05,2014.

I'm not sure if there is a database or something somewhere with the gravitational force of the Moon. However such a thing is easily calculated if you know the distance between you and the Moon, which only requires that you know the distance from the Moon to the Earth at the time.
 
Rick James said:
Hi all

Looking for some assistance if possible.....

I’m doing experiments with magnets and rotating devices and would like to include the effect of drag and pull of the moon (at max and min.) in my data for analysis....Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
R_I_C_K

greetings Rick
welcome to PF

I would suggest that any experiments with magnets and trying to measure very small variations of position etc are going to be more likely to be affected by variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Particularly at times of sudden impulses to the magnetic field during times of bursts of solar activity Coroma Mass Ejections and Flares.

Do a google search on magnetometers. any observed/recorded variations are more likely to have been caused by the much stronger effectof the above rather than the much weaker minor variations of gravity

Dave
 
Well one gravitation effect would be that the moon keeps the Earth from moving into the sun. One i only read about recently. AS the Earths pole would move further towards the sun This obviously would take millions of years to process regardless.

Just an interesting fact non the less.
 
FeynmanP said:
Well one gravitation effect would be that the moon keeps the Earth from moving into the sun. One i only read about recently. AS the Earths pole would move further towards the sun This obviously would take millions of years to process regardless.

Just an interesting fact non the less.

The Earth would not go spiraling into the Sun if it weren't for the Moon. We are in a stable orbit with or without it. The axis of the Earth's rotation may be a little more unstable, but that is not the same thing. Our distance from the Sun would remain the same.
 

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