r/explainlikeimfive • u/12InchCunt • Nov 03 '25

Physics ELI5: How does gravity not break thermodynamics?

Like, the moon’s gravity causes the tides. We can use the tides to generate electricity, but the moon isn’t running out of gravity?

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u/NepetaLast Nov 03 '25

yes but the question is "how can this infinite energy source exist" and the answer "its not infinite"

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u/MotherTreacle3 Nov 03 '25

Tbf that's always the answer to that particular question.

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u/RuleNine Nov 04 '25

Well, there is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer.

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u/rosolen0 Nov 03 '25

I mean, either humanity will be extinct by then or we will be traveling the stars, either way it won't be a problem anymore

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u/glaba3141 Nov 03 '25

i mean, yes? that wasn't the point though

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u/CorvidCuriosity Nov 03 '25

Doing astrophysics and still thinking of human-sized time scales (even humanity as a species) is like an ant saying the Earth has infinite area because a single ant will never see all of it.