Tides

PROBLEM SET
PROBLEM 1. To get an idea of the size and direction of the tidal force,
consider that the average earth-moon distance is R = 3.82108 m and the
average radius of the earth is r = 6.37106 m, so that R = 60r. If we
let r = 1, then R = 60. Substitute these quantities into
-[R - r cos ]
1
r sin
.
aM = -GM [r2 + R2 - 2rR cos ]3/2
+
i + [r2 + R2 - 2rR cos ]3/2 j ,
R2
and show that
aM =

GM

60 - cos
1
[3601 - 120 cos ]3/2 -3600

sin
.
i +[3601 - 120 cos ]3/2 j .

PROBLEM 2. A TI-83 yields a table of values for Y1 and Y2 representing

the x and y components of aM, respectively.
The entries are of the
order of 10-5, so that if we let GM be a convenient number, say 106, this
will make the numbers in the table more manageable.
Enter Y1 and Y2
into your graphing calculator. Show that you get the following values
for the x and y components of the tidal force, and complete the table:
()
0
15
30
45
60
75
90 105 120 135 150 165 180
aM,x
9.5 9.2 8.2 6.6 4.6 2.3 -0.1 -2.5 -4.7 -6.5 -7.9 -8.7 -9.0
aM,y
0.0 -1.2 -2.4 -3.4 -4.1 -4.5 -4.6 -4.4 -3.9 -3.1 -2.2 -1.1 0.0
() 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330 345 360
aM,x

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aM,y

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PROBLEM 3. Plot these vectors using a suitable scale (say 10ths of an

inch, or millimeters).
Use the grid below which is marked in 15
intervals. Plot a vector at each angular increment at the surface (tail
on the circle).

pole

to moon
x

PROBLEM 4. Sketch an ellipse joining the tips of all your vectors.

This represents an exaggerated view of the deformation of the earth by
the moon's tide.
PROBLEM 5. Sketch a 3-d rendering of the ellipse you drew in PROBLEM 4
as it would look if it were rotated about the x-axis (like an egg
beater). What does this shape represent?