Earth's Gravity and it's Moon Effect

First of all, I know little or nothings of physics or astronomy,
this will become quite apparent when I ask my questions. I've
often wondered about these questions for years, but until now
have never asked them

I know that matter generates its' own gravitational field. I
also know that the moon's gravitational effects on the earth
are what causes the earth's tides to ebb and flow.

What if, in future years, we decided to mine the moon of
some of its resources--titanium for example. When we mine
the moon we would then be transferring moon matter to
earth. How much matter would the earth have to accrete
before it would have a significant impact on the earth's
gravity? What is significant? I don't know---say an arbitrary
change of one foot in the tides. Or perhaps a 2 oz. change
in my weight?

If there were a future policy of mining the moon wouldn't
there be a limit on how much could be safely mined? If you
permanently transfer matter from the moon is the
gravitational effect on the earth squared? Quadrupled?
I presume that we would have to constantly measure
the earth's and moon's gravitational changes. Then again
I don't know if the impact is adverse---I'm assuming it is.
Ocean and lake rhythms and therefore fish would be
disrupted, not to mention wolfmen.

Could we send trash and dead bodies
(we can't bury people on earth forever)
to the moon to maintain a set matter-matter
earth/moon ratio so that we can maintain
some gravitational equilibrium? Whatever
that is.

Over eons, I suppose that cosmic dust, meteors,
and asteroids will add both to the earth's and moon's
material wealth.

Take this extreme example. What happens to the
earth if ALL the matter on the moon were now on
the earth. Half the matter, or 1/4 the matter? Yes,
I realize that at some point the moon would just simply
spiral into the earth. Is it even feasible to mine the
moon in any significant way?
--
Del Stanley

"Delbert Stanley" wrote in news:4_egi.1136$Od7.866
@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net:

First of all, I know little or nothings of physics or astronomy,
this will become quite apparent when I ask my questions. I've
often wondered about these questions for years, but until now
have never asked them

I know that matter generates its' own gravitational field. I
also know that the moon's gravitational effects on the earth
are what causes the earth's tides to ebb and flow.

What if, in future years, we decided to mine the moon of
some of its resources--titanium for example.

You wouldn't mine Titanium on the moon to bring it back to Earth. That
would not make any economic sense as Titanium is plentiful right here on
Earth and much easier to get at.


When we mine
the moon we would then be transferring moon matter to
earth.

The only reason for mining on the moon would be to either use it on the
moon or for space craft.


How much matter would the earth have to accrete
before it would have a significant impact on the earth's
gravity? What is significant? I don't know---say an arbitrary
change of one foot in the tides. Or perhaps a 2 oz. change
in my weight?

No way. F = mMG/r^2. You don't seem to have a remote concept of the value
of m and M for the Moon and Earth respectively:

http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/luna.html


SNIP

--
Del Stanley
"Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th" wrote in message
7.6...
"Delbert Stanley" wrote in news:4_egi.1136$Od7.866
@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net:

I know that matter generates its' own gravitational field. I
also know that the moon's gravitational effects on the earth
are what causes the earth's tides to ebb and flow.

What if, in future years, we decided to mine the moon of
some of its resources--titanium for example.

You wouldn't mine Titanium on the moon to bring it back to Earth. That
would not make any economic sense as Titanium is plentiful right here on
Earth and much easier to get at.

The point is if you mine ANYTHING. Any matter. I was asking about
the gravitational effects on the earth when you transfer matter from the
moon, not whether or not it is economically feasible to mine titanium.
It is a physics question, not an economic one. Resources
available today may not be available 200 years from now. I wasn't
expecting pending mining operations. You can substitute any MATTER
you want. I was using titanium as an example only.

Astronomers ask theoretical questions about the cosmos all time
without regard to its economic impact. That is all I was
attempting to do. Thanks anyway.

Del

"Delbert Stanley" wrote in message
nk.net...


--
Del Stanley
"Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th" wrote in message
7.6...
"Delbert Stanley" wrote in
news:4_egi.1136$Od7.866
@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net:

I know that matter generates its' own gravitational field. I
also know that the moon's gravitational effects on the earth
are what causes the earth's tides to ebb and flow.

What if, in future years, we decided to mine the moon of
some of its resources--titanium for example.

You wouldn't mine Titanium on the moon to bring it back to Earth. That
would not make any economic sense as Titanium is plentiful right here on
Earth and much easier to get at.

The point is if you mine ANYTHING. Any matter. I was asking about
the gravitational effects on the earth when you transfer matter from the
moon, not whether or not it is economically feasible to mine titanium.
It is a physics question, not an economic one. Resources
available today may not be available 200 years from now. I wasn't
expecting pending mining operations. You can substitute any MATTER
you want. I was using titanium as an example only.

Astronomers ask theoretical questions about the cosmos all time
without regard to its economic impact. That is all I was
attempting to do. Thanks anyway.

Del


One should keep in mind that one metric ton of matter gets deposited on the
lunar surface each and every day. This was likely a much bigger number
during the first 2 billion years. So I think we can mine with impunity for
a good long time, especially in view of the fact that the Moon has a mass of
7.35^22 kg.

--
Del Stanley
"Hagar" wrote in message
...

"Delbert Stanley" wrote in message
nk.net...


--
Del Stanley
"Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th" wrote in message
7.6...
"Delbert Stanley" wrote in
news:4_egi.1136$Od7.866
@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net:

I know that matter generates its' own gravitational field. I
also know that the moon's gravitational effects on the earth
are what causes the earth's tides to ebb and flow.

What if, in future years, we decided to mine the moon of
some of its resources--titanium for example.

You wouldn't mine Titanium on the moon to bring it back to Earth. That
would not make any economic sense as Titanium is plentiful right here on
Earth and much easier to get at.

The point is if you mine ANYTHING. Any matter. I was asking about
the gravitational effects on the earth when you transfer matter from the
moon, not whether or not it is economically feasible to mine titanium.
It is a physics question, not an economic one. Resources
available today may not be available 200 years from now. I wasn't
expecting pending mining operations. You can substitute any MATTER
you want. I was using titanium as an example only.

Astronomers ask theoretical questions about the cosmos all time
without regard to its economic impact. That is all I was
attempting to do. Thanks anyway.

Del


One should keep in mind that one metric ton of matter gets deposited on
the lunar surface each and every day. This was likely a much bigger
number during the first 2 billion years. So I think we can mine with
impunity for a good long time, especially in view of the fact that the
Moon has a mass of 7.35^22 kg. '

If one metric ton is deposited on the lunar surface wouldn't that be offset
by say 6x that amount on earth? This would keep the gravity equilibrium
for both masses. I was eliminating the outside matter assuming
(perhaps incorrectly) that this matter would counter balance. If x
amount falls onto the moon, that same debris field ( 6x greater?)
would fall onto the earth. I was keying only on the exchange between
the moon and earth masses.

Just for the sake of a thought experiment , what happens to the
gravitational field of each body when you exchange masses?
A zuptillion (ha ha) metric tons of mass from the moon to the earth
does what gravitationally? Yes, I know it is probably immeasurable
but "theoretically" is it a doubling, quadrupling, etc? I was assuming
mining operations for say 1,000 -2000 years. It seems that
the more you mine the impact MAY increase exponentially--
I don't know---just curious (I'll be gone eons before it
happens if it happens at all.)

Del

On Jun 27, 3:30 pm, "Delbert Stanley" wrote:
--
Del Stanley"Hagar" wrote in message

...







"Delbert Stanley" wrote in message
ink.net...

--
Del Stanley
"Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th" wrote in message
.37.6...
"Delbert Stanley" wrote in
news:4_egi.1136$Od7.866
@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net:

I know that matter generates its' own gravitational field. I
also know that the moon's gravitational effects on the earth
are what causes the earth's tides to ebb and flow.

What if, in future years, we decided to mine the moon of
some of its resources--titanium for example.

You wouldn't mine Titanium on the moon to bring it back to Earth. That
would not make any economic sense as Titanium is plentiful right here on
Earth and much easier to get at.

The point is if you mine ANYTHING. Any matter. I was asking about
the gravitational effects on the earth when you transfer matter from the
moon, not whether or not it is economically feasible to mine titanium.
It is a physics question, not an economic one. Resources
available today may not be available 200 years from now. I wasn't
expecting pending mining operations. You can substitute any MATTER
you want. I was using titanium as an example only.

Astronomers ask theoretical questions about the cosmos all time
without regard to its economic impact. That is all I was
attempting to do. Thanks anyway.

Del

One should keep in mind that one metric ton of matter gets deposited on
the lunar surface each and every day. This was likely a much bigger
number during the first 2 billion years. So I think we can mine with
impunity for a good long time, especially in view of the fact that the
Moon has a mass of 7.35^22 kg. '

If one metric ton is deposited on the lunar surface wouldn't that be offset
by say 6x that amount on earth? This would keep the gravity equilibrium
for both masses. I was eliminating the outside matter assuming
(perhaps incorrectly) that this matter would counter balance. If x
amount falls onto the moon, that same debris field ( 6x greater?)
would fall onto the earth. I was keying only on the exchange between
the moon and earth masses.

Just for the sake of a thought experiment , what happens to the
gravitational field of each body when you exchange masses?
A zuptillion (ha ha) metric tons of mass from the moon to the earth
does what gravitationally? Yes, I know it is probably immeasurable
but "theoretically" is it a doubling, quadrupling, etc? I was assuming
mining operations for say 1,000 -2000 years. It seems that
the more you mine the impact MAY increase exponentially--
I don't know---just curious (I'll be gone eons before it
happens if it happens at all.)

Del


An interesting question. As the Moon got lighter, it should decrease
it's tidal effect, so the ocean tides should decrease in size. As the
Earth became more massive, it should pull the Moon closer. Currently
the Moon is moving further away because of energy being transferred
from the Eath's rotation.

Double-A

"Delbert Stanley" wrote in news:nyBgi.1641$zA4.1496
@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:

Snipped

You were given the physics answer. Sir Isaac Newton worked all this out three
hundred years ago. I even gave you links to get the data to plug in. Go read
my reply again.