Peter S/Y Anicula wrote:

Nav wrote:



You make it sound as if the gravitational forces explains the bulge
under the moon and the centrifugal forces explains the bulge on the
side of the earth that turns away from the moon.
That is not right.



The gravitational difference alone can explain that there are bulges
on both side of the earth. That's why it is sometimes the only factor
mentioned when trying to keep the explanation simple.

The trouble is that the gravity difference does not "explain" the two
tides -it may seem to but that is not the case. The correct explanation
resides in the difference between the inertial force and gravity.
Interestingly, it predicts larger tides than are observed (and predicted
by the differerntial model). However, that is because the land masses
and friction reduce the tide height (to what is actaully observed). That
differential gravity appears to produce the "right" answer shows how
shallow (pardon the pun) that "explanation" really is!

Does this make sense?

Cheers