 |
Orbital Relationship Of The Moon
Author: Simone Poleggi  | Posted: 01-01-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 37 | Rating: (51)  (?) 
The Moon is the Earth's natural satellite. It orbits the Earth on a regular basis, much the same as the Earth orbits the Sun. The orbit of the Moon around the Earth creates several interesting conditions and in fact can greatly influence the Earth and everyone on it.
The Moon orbits the Earth with a synchronous rotation. This means that nearly the same face of the Moon is faced towards the Earth at all times. In fact, only 59% of the face of the Moon can ever be observed from Earth. As the moon rotates, it also completes its orbit.
The Moon completes one orbit of the Earth in 27.3 days, but because during this time, the Earth is also moving, a full lunar cycle is 29.5 days. These lunar cycles are responsible for the phases of the moon. The lunar cycle begins with the new moon. The new moon is when the moon first appears as a small sliver. Some cultures and even some calendars will use this new moon as the basis for the beginning of a new month.
Over the course of the next 14 or so days, the lighted face of the moon will continue to become larger and larger. During this process, the moon cycle is called waxing gibbous. After 1 week, it will resemble a half moon and after the approximately 14 days, it will resemble a full Moon. Over the course of the next 14 or so days, the lighted face of the moon will decrease. This is the waning gibbous cycle. At the end of 7 days, it will be half a moon and by the end of 14 days, the lighted area will disappear and the cycle will begin again.
This cycle brings up the first of the orbital effects of the moon on society and culture. The 29.5 day moon cycle corresponds to 1 month. The 12 cycles per year corresponds to the 12 months of the year. The approximately 7 days from each half of the moon corresponds to 1 week. Further more, this cycle of the Moon also corresponds to the menstrual cycle of many women.
The moon's synchronous rotation as it orbits the Earth also causes the tides. As the moon orbits the Earth, the gravitational pull of the Moon is causing water to bulge towards it, causes a tide. This similar force will exist on the far side of the Earth as well, hence there are two tide cycles every day.
The Moon's orbit causes eclipses to occur as well. There are two kinds of eclipses, the solar eclipse and the lunar eclipse. The lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the sun and the moon. The lunar eclipse is unique in that we are able to view the shadow of the Earth being cast on the moon. When the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth, we see a solar eclipse. The Moon is passing over the surface of the Sun.
There are so many effects of the Moon's orbit. It has a very unique relationship with us. It has affected our culture, our physical being and even the forces of nature that shape our world. The Moon shows us how interconnected we are to the universe around us.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/orbital-relationship-of-the-moon-294391.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a movie entitled, My Apartment, with a music score piece, "Dangerous Moon"?
By: Nicholas A. | 16-08-2008
Is it my imagination, or was there a piece entitled" Dangerous Moon" from a movie "My Apartment"?
Thanks,
Nick
Ex meridian of the moon
By: thinkpad | 22-07-2008
how do i figure out Latitude from an ex meridian of the moon?
Scoripio signs
By: safiyyah | 19-07-2008
What dates have a sun, moon, and mercury all in scorpio between the years of 1977-1982?
Who is Rev. Billy Moon?
By: Terry Bob | 19-07-2008
Who is Rev. Billy Moon?
Who was the first person to see the dark side of the moon?
By: dcdjason | 02-07-2008
who was the first person to see the dark side of the moon?
Is it "O.K." for someone to wish to be a werewolf?
By: Werewolf of the White Woods | 10-05-2008
Is it "O.K." for someone to wish to be a werewolf? I know there are crazy people out there, but what about someone who is not crazy in anyway, has nothing to lose, can't stand their life (not enough to die), but is looking for another one. Through much thought and consideration, they decide to search for a way to become a werewolf. I'm not asking if it is normal, or if someone thinks this person is odd or weird, but is it understandable for someone to wish to be a werewolf?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Education Articles
Carhartt Pants: How to Shop for the Best Work Pants
By: Thoma King | 10/10/2008
When you are part of the work force, you are naturally concerned about the cost of the clothing you wear to work. The price of everything has gone up dramatically over the last few years. When you select Carhartt pants for your work wardrobe, you have the assurance that you...
Free College Education Exists
By: Debbie Dragon | 10/10/2008
As high school seniors begin making plans to go to college, the financial reality of it all begins to set in for their parents. Sure, it's usually pretty easy for students and their parents to get approved for college loans to pay for whatever you can't pay upfront - but...
Science of Learning and Foreign Languages
By: Mark E. Piscopo | 10/10/2008
Learning a foreign language is easier, such as Chinese, when understanding how you learn. The science of learning is based on several theories and include: multiple intelligences, right-brain/left-brain/whole-brain, and brain-based learning. Understanding how you learn new information becomes the keystone to effective study patterns and habits. Many people who attempt...
How to Help Your Kids to Have School Success
By: James Brown | 10/10/2008
As parents, your role is to guide, encourage and be the first teacher to your kids. It is easier said than done and that is for certain. But if you know the things you just exactly need to do to help ease the school stress that is giving your kid,...
Piano Notes Can Be Forgotten
By: Daniel E. Friedman | 10/10/2008
The sheer terror of forgotten piano notes! Playing the piano had occupied the lad's life during his entire childhood. Now, after a twenty year break, the lad, now full grown, ventured toward the piano to relive his childhood via some black dots on some manuscript paper. Then it happened. The...
Steps to Getting Along With a Bad College Roommate
By: Tom Tessin | 10/10/2008
Going away to college is a huge thing for students at first. It is completely foreign to most and you never know what you're going to expect. College students have new classes, a new area to live, new people to meet and much more. The thing that always worries college...
Why Should You Learn the Japanese Language?
By: Julie Landry | 09/10/2008
Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a total population of 127 million. Tokyo is one of the world's most populous cities. Japanese language instruction receives more attention in Japanese schools than English instruction in the United States because of the difficulty of learning...
Teach Your Teenager To Drive - Part 2
By: Ray Baker | 09/10/2008
When you are happy that your teenager has mastered the basics of starting and stopping the car, driving in a straight line, and simple left and right turns, you are ready to move on to the next step.
More from Simone Poleggi
Revitalize You Computer With A System Clean
By: Simone Poleggi | 01/01/2008 | Computers
If you are using Windows, then you know how important it is to keep your system clean and running smooth. If your system is not running as well as you would like it to, you don't need to do a complete, clean install of your system. You can use a...
Mars Expedition
By: Simone Poleggi | 14/12/2007 | Education
In June and July of 2003, two unique robot rovers were launched by NASA bound for Mars. The goal of NASA was to collect informations about our neighbour planet, the red planet called Mars. Previous expeditions of the last nearly 30 years have given us so much informations about Mars,...
|
|
Education 
