Equilibrium tide

• If Earth rotates beneath the two bulges, points experience semidiurnal tides

• Call this the equilibrium tide

• Refinements to equilibrium theory include:

  • Plane of moon’s orbit is inclined 61.5° to Earth’s rotation axis - expect daily inequity that varies with a monthly cycle
  • Moon’s orbit is elliptical - expect variation in magnitude of bulge with a 27.55 day cycle

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