Thread: Is the far side of the moon older than the earth facing side

Is the far side of the moon older than the earth side?

A large part of the near side has been re-surfaced, is that what you mean b newer?

Originally Posted by grapes

A large part of the near side has been re-surfaced, is that what you mean b newer?

No. I mean less old. Like if a clock was there

Originally Posted by tom

No. I mean less old. Like if a clock was there

Sorry I was posting from my ipod on some interrupted wifi.

The idea here is that The side that is closer to us is deeper in a gravitational well and thus their clocks would run slower than their neighbors clock on the far side of the moon. Now since the face of the moon does not rotate so that the far side faces us ... it is always in a deeper well since a long time ago.

So would that mean that some of the moon is older than the rest?

Originally Posted by tom

Is the far side of the moon older than the earth side?

Considering the fact that the Moon is tidally locked, the far side orbits Earth faster than the near side, and time dilation effects at velocity, the far side is actually younger than the near side.

On the other hand, there's the fact that the near side is deeper in Earth's gravity well, which also has time dilation effects, thus making it younger than the far side.

The question is: Which time dilation effect is greater in this particular situation? That due to velocity or that due to gravity?

Originally Posted by mugaliens

Considering the fact that the Moon is tidally locked, the far side orbits Earth faster than the near side, and time dilation effects at velocity, the far side is actually younger than the near side.

But from the moons perspective the earth is moving ... so I am not sure this holds ... except relative to the earth. From the earths perspective the moon would appear to have this effect.

The gravitational well is real ... the velocity one is relative. ( I am using inpropper terms here I am sure )

Originally Posted by mugaliens

Considering the fact that the Moon is tidally locked, the far side orbits Earth faster than the near side, and time dilation effects at velocity, the far side is actually younger than the near side.

On the other hand, there's the fact that the near side is deeper in Earth's gravity well, which also has time dilation effects, thus making it younger than the far side.

The question is: Which time dilation effect is greater in this particular situation? That due to velocity or that due to gravity?

The far side of the moon gets deeper into the gravity well of the sun than the near side, though, and that is stronger

Relativity must be maintained. It is a absurd idea to have one surface of a Moon younger than the other...

If you were talking of resurfacing. From impact or volcanism I would find that acceptable and true.. but you are not.

Earth's gravity well and the lesser at this distance solar gravity wells may be responsible for a time differential..

Is this a fine example of mathematics and physics at loggerheads.. Oh no, I'm in trouble now....

Originally Posted by astromark

Earth's gravity well and the lesser at this distance solar gravity wells may be responsible for a time differential.

The strength of the gravity of the sun is two and a half times stronger than the earth's, on the moon.