Earth moves away from the Sun (SuperMemo collection)
(53 elements)
Root - Next
|
Subject: Topic #1: Earth moves away from the Sun
|
The Earth is moving very very slowly away from the Sun. This happens for two reasons. The first is that the Sun is constantly losing mass because of the solar wind. As the mass of the Sun decreases its pull on the Earth decreases and so the Earth moves slightly further away. The second reason is to do with tidal forces. In exactly the same way that the Moon is slowly moving away from the Earth, the Earth is very slowly moving away from the Sun. In the Earth-Moon case the Moon pulls on the Earth creating tides and slowing the Earth’s rotation very slightly, making the day longer. This action has a reaction - the Moons orbit is speeded up. If something travels faster it must move outwards to remain in an orbit and so the Moon slowly drifts away from us at a rate of 3.8 centimetres per year. The same situation happens with the Sun but the Earth’s influence on the Sun is much smaller than the Moon’s influence on the Earth. The result is the Earth’s tiny tiny drift away from the Sun |
Topic #9: The Moon creates tides and is speeded up. If something travels faster it must move ... (12 elements)
The Moon creates tides and is speeded up. If something travels faster it must move outwards to remain in an orbit and so the Moon slowly drifts away from us at a rate of 3.8 centimetres per year |
Topic #8: the Moon pulls on the Earth creating tides and slowing the Earth’s rotation very ... (5 elements) (top)
the Moon pulls on the Earth creating tides and slowing the Earth’s rotation very slightly, making the day longer |
Topic #10: The same situation happens with the Sun but the Earth’s influence on the Sun is much ... (7 elements) (top)
The same situation happens with the Sun but the Earth’s influence on the Sun is much smaller than the Moon’s influence on the Earth -> The Sun creates tidal waves on Earth but these are only half as strong as the tides caused by the Moon because despite its larger mass, the Sun is much further away. |
Topic #6: The Earth is moving away from the Sun for two reasons: (1) the Sun is losing mass, (2) ... (8 elements) (top)
The Earth is moving away from the Sun for two reasons: (1) the Sun is losing mass, (2) the tidal forces slow the Earth's rotation |
Topic #5: The Earth is moving away from the Sun. The Sun is constantly losing mass because of the ... (12 elements) (top)
The Earth is moving away from the Sun. The Sun is constantly losing mass because of the solar wind. As the mass of the Sun decreases its pull on the Earth decreases and so the Earth moves slightly further away |
Topic #4: The Earth is moving very slowly away from the Sun (3 elements) (top)
The Earth is moving very slowly away from the Sun |
About using this material: The best way to learn this material is to use SuperMemo software. No download URL currently available |
Contact data:
www.supermemo.com date: 20-Jun-03 7:05:28 PM Page generated with: SuperMemo 2003 Build: 11.50 Alpha of June 14, 2003 |