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Re: tides redux



I think the examiners expected a simpler calculation than the one you
intend and cannot manage. Just calculate the constant gravitational
potential energy geocentric distance underneath the Moon and at 90
degrees from that point on Earth's surface. The difference between
those will be the range of the tides (double amplitude). Leave the
Earth and Moon stationary for this purpose. The difference cannot be
large, as the energy dissipated in one rotation is much less than the
magnitude of the total kinetic energy; it is a relatively elastic system.

Leigh