tidal bulge

astronomy

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July 14, 2026

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The tidal bulge is a deformation of a celestial body caused by the gravitational pull of another. On Earth, the primary causes of tides are the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun. The Moon's gravitational pull is stronger, causing water to accumulate on the side of Earth facing the Moon and on the opposite side, resulting in two high tides and two low tides daily. When the Sun and Moon align, their combined forces create spring tides with larger ranges. When they are at right angles, neap tides with smaller ranges occur. Factors like continents and water depth create more complex tidal patterns. Tidal friction also plays a role, affecting the rotation of celestial bodies and their orbits.1234

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tidal friction
…on the Earth prevents the tidal bulge, which is raised in Earth’s seas and crust by the Moon’s pull, from staying directly under the Moon. Instead, the bulge is carried out from directly under the Moon by the rotation of the Earth, which spins almost 30 times for every time…
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…on the Earth prevents the tidal bulge, which is raised in Earth’s seas and crust by the Moon’s pull, from staying directly under the Moon. Instead, the bulge is carried out from directly under the Moon by the rotation of the Earth, which spins almost 30 times for every time…
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celestial mechanics
Tidal evolution
…rigid, there is always some tidal bulge, and compressibility of the material will farther enhance this bulge. Note that the tidal distortion is independent of the orbital motion and would also occur if m_p and m_s were simply falling toward each other. (There is a similar tide raised on m_s…
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…rigid, there is always some tidal bulge, and compressibility of the material will farther enhance this bulge. Note that the tidal distortion is independent of the orbital motion and would also occur if m_p and m_s were simply falling toward each other. (There is a similar tide raised on m_s…
Read More