why does the moon look like a perfect sphere on a full moon night?

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We know that the moon formed through a collision between earth and possibly another planet. If so,
wouldn’t the shape of the moon be irregular?

Can spacetime bend and smoothen out celestial objects in space when they’re rotating on their axis or revolving around another object?

In: Physics

6 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Imagine placing an ice cube (or really any other shape) on a stretched out piece of fabric. The fabric under the cube has now changed shape, but look now the fabric around the edges of the cube undergoes different stresses. If you want the forces to be equal on every spot along the edge you have to change shape to a circle, but first the ice has to melt.

That’s essentially what happens only on a way larger scale, the aforementioned fabric is being reshaped by gravity and it wants to be shaped like a circle (since gravity travels like a wave in all directions, thus making a circle). If the ice cube is solid it’s rigidity can allow it to widthstand some force, but if they get strong enough they’ll change it’s shape. Also if it melts (think lava) it will be easier to move.

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