Re: moon's synchronism

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca>]

> I also hope to learn more from John's simulation, and from its
> interpretation. But for the time being I do not see why the
> "synchronization without friction" would automatically violate
> classical physics.

Then do the classical physics calculation, but you must start
with some spin angular momentum to be got rid of! There are many
moons in the solar system that have spin orbit synchronized. I
doubt that the majority of them started as yours did, with no
spin angular momentum.

> I did not get rid of any angular momentum. Neither Earth nor Moon
> were given spin at time zero (in the frame of reference of the
> center of mass). Moon starts spinning (tries to show us the same
> face). I assume this is at the expense of the orbital angular
> momentum. But this has to be checked; all sort of speedometers
> are available in IP. I watched the system for only two ratations.
> Some interesting oscillations (of the double-moon's axis with
> respect to the line between the centers of E and M) were quite
> obvious. I wish I had more time to play with this system.

If you wish to simulate the Earth Moon system start with both
bodies spinning directly (or at least with the earth doing so)
and watch them for more than two orbits.

Leigh