Moon's angular momentum with increasing orbital radius · CAP 2004 #Q21

Physics · mechanics

Problem

Due to tidal friction on Earth, the radius

R

of the Moon's orbit is increasing at the rate of a few centimetres per year. During this process, the Moon's angular momentum (a) remains constant since its speed decreases; (b) remains constant but its total energy increases; (c) increases as

\sqrt{R}

while its total energy increases; (d) decreases as

\sqrt{R}

while its kinetic energy decreases.

Browse the problem library