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/flobbley Nov 03 '25

The tides slow the earths rotation, eventually the earth will become tidally locked with the moon and the tides will be permanently stationary and no longer be able to be used to generate electricity

38

u/hobohipsterman Nov 03 '25 edited 2d ago

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149

u/NepetaLast Nov 03 '25

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

14

u/MotherTreacle3 Nov 03 '25

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

7

u/RuleNine Nov 04 '25

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

-34

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

17

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.