Silicon oxide on the moon

mark! · Feb 3, 2015

It is said that the tides on earth are due to the moon's gravity. But the moon consists half of silicon oxide, the stuff that also comes with the new camera/shoes in that little bag, and acts like a moist absorber. So maybe there are two reasons for the tides?

Bandersnatch · Feb 3, 2015

Consider:

1) there's a high tide on the opposite side of Earth too. Away from the Moon.
2) the tides affect everything the Earth is made of, not just water.
3) gravity accounts for all the observations; there's no room for an additional effect
4) moisture absorbers don't work like that

phinds · Feb 3, 2015

mark! said: ↑

It is said that the tides on earth are due to the moon's gravity. But the moon consists half of silicon oxide, the stuff that also comes with the new camera/shoes in that little bag, and acts like a moist absorber. So maybe there are two reasons for the tides?

That is hilarious. I normally report these utter-nonsense posts but I got such a chuckle out of this that I'm going to hope they leave it up.

mark! · Feb 3, 2015

I meant is it certain that SiO2 only absorbs water through direct contact, and there's no attraction at all when there is space (literally) in between them?

And if it's gravity of the moon that attracts the water, why do we only see water attraction and nothing else that goes up, or wants to go up, to the moon?

phinds · Feb 3, 2015

Oh ... you were SERIOUS

Yes, it is certain that with a couple of hundred thousand miles between them, the water and the Si02 don't even know of each others existence (other than through gravity)

Everything DOES want to go to the moon (that is, is attracted by the moon's gravity). It just wants to stay on Earth more. And since it's all held down by gravity or other bonds, it stays down. The water has more freedom of motion and so shows what is by comparison to the distances involved a trivial effect. It just seems noticeable to us because it's significant by human standards. A few feet out of several hundred thousand miles is pretty insignificant.

davenn · Feb 4, 2015

mark! said: ↑

It is said that the tides on earth are due to the moon's gravity.......

you also forgot about the Sun's gravity effect on the earth and its oceans

Bystander · Feb 4, 2015

mark! said: ↑

why do we only see water attraction and nothing else that goes up, or wants to go up, to the moon?

"Nothing else?" Wrong. There are atmospheric and crustal tides. Viscosity of the crust is such that you don't notice it creeping up over your feet twice a day, and technically you are part of the crust so are moving with it rather than remaining independent of lunar gravitation. The atmospheric tides are difficult to sort out from diurnal heating and cooling, but are there.

Garth · Feb 5, 2015

mark! said: ↑

I meant is it certain that SiO2 only absorbs water through direct contact, and there's no attraction at all when there is space (literally) in between them?

And if it's gravity of the moon that attracts the water, why do we only see water attraction and nothing else that goes up, or wants to go up, to the moon?

Lets tie lots of bags of SiO₂ together to a capsule and fly to the Moon! ;)

Garth

EDIT Oh No! I've got it wrong - it would go the wrong way. Nevermind perhaps NASA could use it to get back from the Moon!!:):D

phinds · Feb 5, 2015

Garth said: ↑

Lets tie lots of bags of SiO₂ together to a capsule and fly to the Moon! ;)

Garth

EDIT Oh No! I've got it wrong - it would go the wrong way. Nevermind perhaps NASA could use it to get back from the Moon!!:):D

Right ... you got it backwards ... we have to tie bags of water together to fly to the moon.