Quote:
Originally Posted by wasyoungonce
Probably a natural energy level settling, an interplay of Newtons & Keplers laws of the bodies.
Each body exerts gravitational energy on each other..the bigger mass wins the smaller mass looses energy & attains a stable orbit.
Moon has a solid core and this may also add to the effect of tidal locking.  |
I've seen something similar in hydraulics, where there are 3 pistons with different surface areas, but connected to a common manifold which slowly increases the pressure until a single piston moves, however;
1. The 1sq inch piston has 10lbs on top of it
2. The 10sq inch piston has 100lbs on top of it
3. The 100sq inch piston has 1000lbs on top of it
If you dial up the pressure, which piston overcomes it's supported weight first. Common sense would say they all act at the same time...not so!
Conservation of energy somehow makes the 1sq inch piston move first.
The locking of smaller mass/energy to larger mass/energy isn't surprising.
I actually miss sequenced hydraulics...hydraulics in general is fascinating.