Distance between moon & earth increasing!

[mubashirmansoor]

I learnt that the distance betwee the Moon and the earth is increasing but I couldn't find the reason for it, Is it because of the earths orbit? I mean that when the distance is minimum , causes the moon to move towards the sun ( newtonian laws ) and even when the distance becomes maximum the earth won't be able to completly recover the effect which had made the distance greater..... ? Thankyou for your answers <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[telfrow]

See this explanation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[smartnova]

The reason for this is tidal forces. The moon raises water tides on the Earth, since its gravitational pull is slightly higher on the side of the Earth which is pointed towards the moon and slightly lower on the part of the<br />Earth which is away from the moon. The action of these water tides is to eventually (and very gradually) slow the rotation of the Earth almost like a friction brake. However, the mass of these tides also acts to very slowly accelerate the moon in its orbit (conservation of angular momentum). As the Earth slows, some of the angular momentum of the Earth is transfered to the moon. Thus, over the years, the moon's orbit expands. Moon moving away