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THEORETICAL MAXIMUM TIDAL ACCELERATION Consider two planets of different masses orbiting a common center of mass (‘barycenter’) in an inertial reference frame. Assume both planets are rigid spheres with circular orbits. Therefore, to calculate the maximum tidal acceleration, we should start from this orbital mechanics formula: T² / d³ = 4π² / [G (M1 + M2)] and b = M2 d/(M1 + M2), where T = orbital period d = distance between the centers of the two planets M1 = mass of the larger planet M2 = mass of the smaller planet b = distance from the “barycenter” to the center of the larger planet. Suppose the above model is applied to the Earth-Moon system. We know that the barycenter of the system is within Earth. Now, consider a small object of mass m located on Earth's surface at its closest point to the Moon. The object of mass m naturally orbits with the Earth, so m experiences a centripetal force toward the barycenter, F centripetal = m ω² (R - b), where R = radius of the Earth ω = angu...

THE RISE OF GAMOW-MANAMPIRING PERSPECTIVE (Part 2) For example, consider the Earth-sun system. In practice, the Earth assumed to orbit the sun. The sides of the Earth that facing and facing away from the sun have different orbital radii. The oceans or objects on the surfaces of these two sides should have angular velocities (ω) and linear velocities (v, tangential velocity) respectively to their radii. The larger the orbital radius, the smaller the ω in that orbit. The oceans on both sides are bound by Earth's gravity, forced to follow the angular velocity of Earth's center. As a result, the oceans on the "near side" have too low a linear velocity (v = ωr) and tend to deviate toward the sun. On the other hand, the oceans on the "far side" have too high a linear velocity and tend to deviate away from the sun. As a result, the oceans on both sides of the Earth bulge, as if about to break away from the Earth. Physicist George Gamow (1962) wrote, "Thus, if ...

THE RISE OF GAMOW-MANAMPIRING PERSPECTIVE (Part 1) Physicist George Gamow (1904–1968) was dissatisfied with the classical explanation of ocean tides. The classical perspective found it difficult to intuitively understand why there could be two high tides on opposite sides of the Earth. Gamow (1962) wrote, "Many people who hear for the first time this explanation of ocean tides find it hard to understand why there are two tidal waves, one on the side turned toward the Moon or the Sun, and another on the opposite side where ocean waters seem to move in the direction opposite to the gravitational pull." Another point of dissatisfaction was that the classical perspective modeled the Earth and Moon as if they were at rest while being pulled by their respective gravitational forces. George Gamow (1962) commented, “If the Moon were fixed in a given position, sitting on top of a giant tower erected on some part of the Earth's surface, or if the Earth itself were kept...