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Re: Tidal Motion



Jim,
The moon's core is not molten, in fact it is not homogenous. It is modeled
as a group of mas cons (mass concentrations). This implies that the core
has not undergone the kind of differentiation that the Earth has. The
Moon's equatorial diameter is greater then its polar diameter (like the
Earth), but it has an even greater diameter in the direction of the Earth,
then it does at right angles to it, a permanent tidal bulge. This is of
course possible because of the spin-orbital coupling caused by the tidal
friction.
The Earth has a land tide as well as an ocean tide. It is much smaller the
order of cm instead of meters. But if memory serves, the ocean tides
account for only about half of the energy loss associated with the slowing
of the earth's rotation. I have never heard of separating the crustal and
mantle components of the land tide.


Gary Karshner

St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas
KARSHNER@STMARYTX.EDU