Why doesn't tidal force pull earth and moon together?

AI Thread Summary
Tidal forces stretch the Earth and create two tidal bulges due to a non-uniform gravitational field rather than pulling the Earth and Moon together. The concept of centrifugal force is often misapplied in oceanography, leading to misunderstandings about tidal mechanics. Some oceanographers do provide accurate explanations, with recommended resources highlighting the correct physics behind tides. Differential tidal forces, which account for both lunar and solar influences, are well defined in certain texts, but inconsistencies remain in introductory explanations. The discussion emphasizes the need for clarity and accuracy in teaching tidal dynamics.
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Why does tidal force strectechs the Earth and creates two tidal bulges, like pulling on a rubber band, instead of pulling Earth and moon together?
 
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Check out
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Understanding_Tides_by_Steacy_finalFINAL11_30.pdf"
 
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Gannet said:
Check out
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Understanding_Tides_by_Steacy_finalFINAL11_30.pdf"
*Sigh*

Oceanographers use the wrong explanation. Almost inevitably. It is a bad, bad meme in the oceanography world. While oceanographers do do oceanography well, that doesn't extend to physics. You don't need centrifugal force to explain the tides, centrifugal force does not explain the tides, and what they are calling centrifugal force is not the centrifugal force! The tide generating forces are the result of a non-uniform gravitational field. Period.

A few oceanographers do get it right. This article, http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/chapter17/chapter17_04.htm, is a bit better than most. As much as people like to malign wikipedia, their suite of articles on the tides are pretty dang good.
 
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D H said:
*Sigh*...

Hicks does get into differential tidal forces in Chapter 5, which I think is very well explicitly defined and takes into account both lunar and solar tidal generating forces. That's why I lead the OP to this document.
 
Gannet said:
Hicks does get into differential tidal forces in Chapter 5, which I think is very well explicitly defined and takes into account both lunar and solar tidal generating forces. That's why I lead the OP to this document.
Ahh. So Hicks does. So why that nonsense in chapter 1?
 
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