Imagine a planet that spins so fast a day lasts not 24 hours but only six. Daytime is brief, and nighttime is only long enough for a nap. The planet's moon rushes across the sky so close it looks 10 times larger than our familiar Moon!
No, this is not one of the Earth-like planets astronomers have discovered around distant stars. It is Earth itself, 4.5 billion years ago, when the Moon was newly formed and orbiting less than 20,000 miles (32,200 kilometers) from Earth.
Since then, the power of the tides has slowed Earth's spin and pushed the Moon's orbit more than 200,000 miles (322,000 km) farther away.
Other tidal forces have affected many of the solar system's moons. They have controlled their orbits, slowed their spins, melted their interiors, and, in the case of Jupiter's moon Io, driven continuous volcanism.
Rise and Fall of Oceans-and Land
Tides on Earth are caused by the gravitational pulls of both the Moon and Sun. The Moon, though, is much closer, and its pull is twice that of the Sun. Tides on Earth affect more than just the oceans. Though you never notice it, twice each day the solid rock under your feet rises and falls about 15 inches (38 centimeters).
The main tidal bulge caused by the Moon's gravity should point directly toward the Moon-but it doesn't. Earth's fast rotation keeps the tidal bulge ahead of the Moon, so the gravity of the bulge pulls the Moon faster in its path around Earth. Because of this extra pull, the Moon spirals away from Earth-about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) each year-to find a stable orbit.
Bu hikaye Muse Science Magazine for Kids dergisinin March 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Muse Science Magazine for Kids dergisinin March 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A Mars Rock Found With Leopard Spots Could Be a Sign of Ancient Life
IN JULY, NASA'S PERSEVERANCE ROVER CAME ACROSS A SPOTTED ROCK IN WHAT WAS ONCE A RIVERBED IN THE JEZERO CRATER ON MARS.
Para Athlete Uses Exoskeleton Suit to Carry the Olympic Torch
In July, a 36-year-old French tennis para athlete, Kevin Piette, got a chance to participate in this summer’s Olympic torch relay without using a wheelchair.
Ancient Egyptians May Have Used a Water System to Lift Stones to Build Pyramid
HOW ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BUILT THE MASSIVE PYRAMIDS IN EGYPT MORE THAN 4,000 YEARS AGO HAS LONG BEEN A TOPIC OF WONDER AND DEBATE.
Seals Can Make Big Dives Thanks to Their Big Hearts
SEALS AND SEA LIONS, WHICH ARE SEMI-AQUATIC MAMMALS, CAN HOLD THEIR BREATHS UNDERWATER FOR ESPECIALLY LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
THE BIG-CITY LIFE OF STEVEN J.BIKE SHOP RABBIT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Bicycle Roots is a full-service bike shop. It's in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Joe Lawler is the co-owner and service manager. Perhaps more important, he's \"dad\" to the shop's most popular employee. That's Steven J. Lawler.
Wild Ones
WHAT FACTORS DRIVE PEOPLE TO BUY MONKEYS, TIGERS, AND OTHER WILD ANIMALS?
HOW TO CONQUER THE WORLD
A brief history
What would happen if meteors hit Earth?
You may have seen Ameteors fly into Earth's atmosphere, in the form of shooting stars.
WORKING WORMS
DON'T JUST THROW THOSE TABLE SCRAPS AWAY! LET A BOX OF WORMS TURN THEM INTO SOMETHING USEFUL.
Dog Rescue Saves Lives
THE ARGUMENT FOR ADOPTING A NO-KILL GOAL