🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec23.163859.16008@cerberus.ulaval.ca>, duquet@astro.phy.ulaval.ca (Jean-Remi Duquet) writes:
>Maybe I can add something to this discussion. This explanation, while 
>technically correct, applies mostly to solid bodies. For example, a solid
>satellite comig close to a massive planet will be disrupted by the differential
>force between the center and the close and far sides of the satellite.
>
>However, this effect is small and can't explain the tides by itself. 

Er, yes, it does.

>The principal effect is, strangely, the force perpendicular to the axis
>between the two bodies. If you compute the effective (vectorial) force
>on the surface of the ocean (i.e. the gravitational pull from the moon
>minus the force that keeps the Earth-Moon system together), you will notice 
>that this force is oriented outward when you are along E-M axis, inward
>when you are perpendicular to it, and parallel to the surface of the earth 
>when at 45 degrees.

Water being a fluid, though, is incapable of passing compressional forces along
the surface, so the effect of the compressional force you're talking about is
only a second-order effect at the locus of a high tide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.