CompuServe Messages

10 times the tidal force currently produced by the sun on the earth does not look strong to me. The tidal pull of the sun is much less than the tidal pull of the moon on the earth. Rock tides can be demonstrated (barely, by a SMALL displacement) but have never been shown to break up any rock. We on earth hardly notice the change in weight caused by tidal forces. 10 times is still a very weak force. The idea of this force pulling metals, mantle, etc., around is funny. Furthermore, with gravity, dipole (i.e., tidal) forces always come with monopole (orbit changing) forces. I think the earth would be pulled from its orbit.