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Asked by sevvalA to Heather, Helen, Hugh, Jane, Julian on 11 Nov 2014.
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Julian Onions answered on 11 Nov 2014:
The moon is causing tides on the Earth, so we get high and low tide. This transfers some energy between the two, and so the moon moves slowly outwards as it loses energy and orbits slower and further out.
The Moon was probably formed in a big smash between what was the Earth and a smaller planet early in the Earths history, soon after it had formed. Since that time it has been drifting away from us slowly.
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Heather Campbell answered on 12 Nov 2014:
Another good answer from Julian, the speed of it moving away is about of 3.78cm per year. That also happens to be approximately the same rate at which your fingernails grow.
The moon is also slowing the Earth’s spin down! Days used to be a bit shorter. We’ve slowed by about 19 hours in the last 4.5bn years. How many of us have wished for more hours in the day? Well the Universe has granted our wish (even if only a tiny ting bit!)!
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Helen Johnson answered on 12 Nov 2014:
As Julian says, the moon causes tides on Earth because of its gravity – we get two bulges in the oceans – one on either side of the Earth. As the Earth rotates some of its energy gets transferred to the bulge, so its always ahead of the Moon. The bulge gives some energy to the Moon, causing it to travel outwards into a slightly higher orbit 🙂
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