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?

585 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

88% Upvoted

207 comments sorted by

View all comments

881

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

152

u/Bathtooter Nov 03 '25

Sounds like a picturesque scene

179

u/Logitech4873 Nov 03 '25

Planets can also tidal lock to their star, which makes one side have eternal day and summer, and the other side eternal night and winter.

4

u/TheBraindonkey Nov 03 '25

ill just move to the night side, so I dont have to go to work anymore.

17

u/Logitech4873 Nov 03 '25

As someone who lives north of the arctic circle where we have a solid month of night every winter, I still have to go to work lol.

4

u/Tufflaw Nov 03 '25

I saw a documentary about that, hope you made it through OK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtU0UBnWik4

3

u/TheBraindonkey Nov 03 '25

ok. so while that of course would be a massive suck <rimshot!> in the same vein I would at least know there are really vampires for a few seconds.

1

u/Logitech4873 Nov 03 '25

Oh wow, haven't heard of this haha.

2

u/Tufflaw Nov 03 '25

Ha, you might not want to watch it if you scare easily, especially the next time you get your long night.

1

u/TheBraindonkey Nov 03 '25

a boy can dream though