The earth's rotation rate is slowing down because of friction against the tidal bulges caused by the gravitation of the moon (major factor) and the sun (lesser factor). The earth's rotational energy is dissipated as heat, but where is the angular momentum going, and what physical mechanism brings that momentum there?
(In reply to
re(6): I disagree - me too, with you by Ken Haley)
Ken,
You wrote, "...if you agree that energy can be [transferred], why not the momentum that goes with it?"
I don't understand your question. We *do* agree that momentum and
energy can be transferred. Our whole point is that it *must* be
transferred. You were suggesting that it somehow "dissolves" away.
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You wrote, "Both momentum and energy are governed by their respective laws of conservation, right?"
Yes, barring discussions about E=mc˛, both energy and momentum are always conserved.
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You'll notice above I replaced your use of "dissipation" with
"transferred". I'm not sure what you are trying to indicate with
that word. Perhaps you should read about entropy, and how it
always increases. But you wrote "... you both allow for the
dissipation of energy, but not momentum. How can you lose one
without the other?".
On the contrary, (and I think I speak for Charlie too) in a given event
or series of events either a system's energy or its angular momentum
(or its linear momentum) or any combination thereof may
change. But, if anything changes within the system as a whole, it
has been exchanged with a second (external) system.
re(7): I disagree - me too, with you
