FlipFact of the Day: Did you know that you weigh slightly less when the Moon is directly above you in the night sky?
If you were standing directly under the Moon, your weight would go down. (The same thing would happen if the Moon were on the opposite side of the world from where you’re standing.)
Check out what astronomer and science communicator Ryan Marciniak, founder of Astronomy in Action, has to say about it:
Because the Earth is a large solid body, its entire mass orbits at the same speed. This is the key to tidal forces. The Centripetal force of the Earth is the same across it’s entire diameter, but because gravity depends on distance, the side of the Earth facing the Moon feels more gravity that the side facing away. This results in the tidal force on both sides of the Earth, pointing away from the center.
This means that you weigh less when the Moon is above you AND when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from you. In both cases, your weight changes by (almost) the same amount.
Don’t drop your diet just yet, though. The Moon’s position relative to Earth affects your weight in the same way it affects tides. However, the Moon’s gravitational pull on us is only a little above a millionth (0.000001) of Earth’s, which means the difference is pretty much negligible. 🤷♂️
Today’s Science History Milestone: On August 1, 1774, British scientist Joseph Priestley officially discovered oxygen gas. (German-Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele had similar, earlier findings that were not published until 1777.)
Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge.
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Cover: Getty Images
References
- http://ryanmarciniak.com/archives/518
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
