The Moon is a very special celestial companion of the Earth. Its role is not just to illuminate at night and give the Earth some light. The Moon helps the planet and us in many ways from tidal bulge to Earth's tilt and slowing down the planet's rotation. In fact, life would have been near to impossible had the Moon not been there Yet, the terrifying fact is that the Moon is drifting away from the Earth. And if that happens, life on Earth might collapse entirely. Read on to know why the Moon is drifting away and how that can impact us.
For a change, this is not due to human intervention. The reason the Moon rotates around the Earth is because it has been pulled by our planet's strong gravitational force. But at the same time, the Moon itself pulls the Earth due to its own gravitational field. Its impact is seen directly on oceans where the tidal bulges are formed and ocean currents get their movement. However, as the tidal bulge actually gets pulled at a height above the Earth's surface, the Moon receives a kick-back, almost similar to the recoiling effect of a gun.
As a result, the Moon gets ever-so-slightly pushed back. This distance has been measured to be 3.78 centimeters or 1.5 inches every year. And while it may not look like a lot, as the distance keeps accumulating, its impact on Earth will also be visible in due time.
The most immediate effect would be that there will be no giant rock illuminating the planet during the night time. But compared to everything else that would be going on during that time, this would probably go unnoticed. One of the biggest impacts would be on tidal waves. While oceans will still retain some movement due to the gravitational force of the Sun, it will be very weak and minimal. Most of
Read more on tech.hindustantimes.com