Soon will be 25 hrs a day due to the moon..!?

Earth's days are getting longer as the moon slowly moves away from Earth. The Moon's gravitational pull affects Earth's rotation, causing the days to gradually lengthen. Over millions of years, this change has become significant. Astronomers are constantly studying this. The moon is slowly moving away from the Earth. And this gradual separation affects the length of our planet's days. According to recent studies, the moon, known as the moon, is moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year. As a result, in the distant future, a day on Earth will increase from 24 hours to 25 hours. Although this change may seem unusual. This won't happen for another 200 million years. That's a relatively short time in cosmological terms. But too long to affect current generations.
Researchers at the university of Wisconsin-Madison investigated the phenomenon and explored the geological and historical implications of the moon's motion. They conducted their study on a 90 million-year-old rock geological formation. The gradual movement of the moon away from the Earth has a significant effect on the Earth's rotation. This research revealed that it particularly affects the length of a day. Astronomers say the idea that the moon's distance affects Earth's rotation is rooted in the gravitational relationship between the two celestial bodies.
Stephen Myers, a professor of geosciences at the university of Wisconsin-Madison, explains that this process is similar to how figure skaters slow their rotation when they extend their arms. As the moon moves further away, Earth's rotation slows down. This makes the days last. Interestingly, Earth's days were very short in ancient times. About 140 million years ago, a day on Earth lasted only 18 hours. This difference occurs because the distance between the Earth and the moon changes over time. By studying sedimentary layers and ancient rock formations, scientists have been able to track this relationship over millions of years.


They also observed that the Moon's separation rate varies with factors such as slip and Earth's rotation speed. The current distance between the Earth and the moon is about 384,400 kilometers. But this is not always the case. Scientists have known for decades that the moon is gradually moving away from Earth, but recent research has provided a more detailed understanding of how this movement affects the planet's rotation. The speed at which the moon moves away from Earth has changed throughout history.

 Sometimes it accelerates and sometimes it slows down depending on the geographical conditions. Over millions of years, this process will slow the Earth's rotation. While this may seem like a distant reality, astronomers say it highlights the complex and dynamic relationship between Earth and its natural satellite.
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Sowmiya Sriram

14/09/2024 03:20 PM