What would happen if the Moon's orbit was altered?
There are many different theories on what would happen if the Moon's orbit altered. Most of these theories state that it would largely impact Earth. If the Moon's orbit was altered the ocean's tides, lengths of our day and night hours, seasons, the Earth's rotation speed and the phases of the Moon on the Earth would be effected.
What would happen if the Moon didn't spin as it orbited the earth?
The seasons would be very, very long and our days and nights would also be extended. This is because it would be spinning at such a slow rate after coming to a sudden hault. Another possibility that could occur if the Moon stopped spinning is it could possibly crash into Earth, which would affect the tides and possibly our gravity. Another major occurrence that could happen is that we may be able to eventually see the darker side of the Moon that we presently can't see from Earth, as we only see the illuminated side of the Moon and that is why we see phases of the Moon. This would happen because once the Moon would come to a halt, it would continue spinning but at a lot slower rate and eventually come to a point where the darker side of the Moon would be illuminated by the suns rays, enabling us to see this side of the Moon.
The seasons would be very, very long and our days and nights would also be extended. This is because it would be spinning at such a slow rate after coming to a sudden hault. Another possibility that could occur if the Moon stopped spinning is it could possibly crash into Earth, which would affect the tides and possibly our gravity. Another major occurrence that could happen is that we may be able to eventually see the darker side of the Moon that we presently can't see from Earth, as we only see the illuminated side of the Moon and that is why we see phases of the Moon. This would happen because once the Moon would come to a halt, it would continue spinning but at a lot slower rate and eventually come to a point where the darker side of the Moon would be illuminated by the suns rays, enabling us to see this side of the Moon.
What would happen if the rotational speed of the Moon's orbit were altered?
If this was to occur, the Moon would leave the earth eventually, either by escaping due to the rotational speed increasing, or it would fall, due to the rotational speed decreasing. Without the Moon that we would not be able to see the 8 phases of the moon or get the gravitational pull from the Moon that causes the tides. Without tides, we can’t surf or go fishing. It would also stop us from our nighttimes as it would not be blocking us from the Sun during our usual night periods and we would therefore have constant daylight.
If this was to occur, the Moon would leave the earth eventually, either by escaping due to the rotational speed increasing, or it would fall, due to the rotational speed decreasing. Without the Moon that we would not be able to see the 8 phases of the moon or get the gravitational pull from the Moon that causes the tides. Without tides, we can’t surf or go fishing. It would also stop us from our nighttimes as it would not be blocking us from the Sun during our usual night periods and we would therefore have constant daylight.
So obviously, we need the moon to orbit our Earth in return for relaxed tides, so that we are able to enjoy a surf or go fishing, current day and night durations and season durations and so we can experience the phases of the Moon!