Geo3gh DoctorDon GrapesOfWrath

Let me try to state or restate the evidence [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

1) In 1969 the laser reflector was placed on the Moon. As you stated the Earth and Moon, are moving apart at a rate of "3.82±0.07 cm/year."
2) It has been known for hundreds of years that the Moon *appears* to slow down by 1 revolution every 18.6 years.
3) The above two, are components of the same vector.
4) The leap second. Even before the atomic clock the Earth's *appearent* slowing was detectable. Since the atomic clock (1956 ish) the amount has been fixed at around 0.68 second per year.

Other than a physics book and logic I think that's about it.

Geo3gh said:
"Don and I have both brought out evidence that the moon's orbital radius is indeed increasing (on the order of 3cm/year) and that the length of the day is increasing as well."

GrapesOfWrath said:
"I think you are just misunderstanding the textbooks, in this case. Your theory doesn't seem to match the evidence."

I believe that most all the astronomy texts say or infer that the Earth is *slowing* down, or as just stated "the length of the day is increasing." I don't believe that I can misunderstand that unless the word slowing has some new definition. I don't believe there is evidence that the Earth, Moon, or the Earth-Moon system are slowing.

Example:
If there is a stop light at the end of a freeway on ramp, and if you stop at it, your speed is 0 and your acceleration is 0.
The light turns green you accelerate (speed up) to 70 mph and set the cruise control. Here you aren't accelerating, but you are cruising at 70 mph.
Brake lights ahead!
You put your foot on the brake pedal.
Are you speeding up, no.
Are you cruising, no.
Are you stopped, no.
You are accelerating, this time you're "slowing" down. 60-50-40-30-20-10
OK! OK! Reset the cruise control.
Are you stopped no.
Are you speeding up no.
Are you cruising ????
Are you "slowing" down, no.
You are simply going more slowwwwly.
"Slowing" is a negative acceleration.

Going slow is a relative term whereby you need to compare one fixed speed to another. If you were going 70, but now only 10 you're going slower or slow. If you're going 10 and the car pool lane is still at 70 again you're slower or slow. The amount in this case is a difference of 60. That difference of 60 will not change unless an acceleration +/- takes place in one or the other of the speeds.

The Leap Second has been about 0.68 seconds every year for some 40+ years, which says to me it is not an acceleration only a difference in speed. I could be wrong there could be an acceleration, but the amount is far to small to measure.
I say that the leap second data, recession of nodes data, and the laws of physics prove that the Earth and Moon are not "slowing".

Yes, the observational data Earth-Moon in relation to the stars shows them to be moving slow, but nothing shows them to be "slowing".
All the laws stated in physics textbooks seem to show that no slowing of the Moon or Earth can be possible. What the laws show is that the Moon and Earth are slowing the Sun, but in turn the Sun is speeding up the Earth and Moon.

Gary

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Gary Redmond on 2002-03-22 07:56 ]</font>