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How do the tides slow the earths rotation?

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It was actually the earth's rotation slowing down, making the moon appear to accelerate. The moon does accelerate (strictly, it decelerates), but the larger effect is the earth's rotational braking. This braking is caused by tidal friction. read more

High tide actually precedes the Moon in it’s orbit by a few degrees, giving the Earth “wings” which the Moon tugs on more strongly than it does those areas at lower elevations. It’s such a minor difference, resulting in a very tiny change in Earth’s day, hardly enough to cause a stir on social media. read more

Tides affect the earth's rotation in two sharply contrasting ways. One way, caused by tidal friction, produces an extremely slow secular change in rotation. The other way, caused by the continual movements of the tides about the planet, produces very small but very rapid changes in rotation. read more

Tides Slow Earth Rotation As the Earth rotates beneath the tidal bulges, it attempts to drag the bulges along with it. A large amount of friction is produced which slows down the Earth's spin. The day has been getting longer and longer by about 0.0016 seconds each century. read more

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