Tide-producing force: Difference between revisions
From Glossary of Meteorology
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<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">The slight local difference between the gravitational attraction of two astronomical bodies and the [[centrifugal force]] that holds them apart.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">These forces are exactly equal and opposite at the [[center of gravity]] of either of the bodies, but, since gravitational attraction is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, it varies from point to point on the surface of the bodies. Therefore, gravitational attraction predominates at the surface point nearest to the other body, while centrifugal | <div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">The slight local difference between the gravitational attraction of two astronomical bodies and the [[centrifugal force]] that holds them apart.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">These forces are exactly equal and opposite at the [[center of gravity]] of either of the bodies, but, since gravitational attraction is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, it varies from point to point on the surface of the bodies. Therefore, gravitational attraction predominates at the surface point nearest to the other body, while centrifugal "repulsion" predominates at the surface point farthest from the other body. Hence there are two regions where tide-producing forces are at a maximum, and normally there are two tides each [[lunar day]] and [[solar day]].</div><br/> </div> | ||
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Latest revision as of 15:19, 20 February 2012
tide-producing force
The slight local difference between the gravitational attraction of two astronomical bodies and the centrifugal force that holds them apart.
These forces are exactly equal and opposite at the center of gravity of either of the bodies, but, since gravitational attraction is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, it varies from point to point on the surface of the bodies. Therefore, gravitational attraction predominates at the surface point nearest to the other body, while centrifugal "repulsion" predominates at the surface point farthest from the other body. Hence there are two regions where tide-producing forces are at a maximum, and normally there are two tides each lunar day and solar day.
