航海英语航海英语Chapter35-TidesAndTidalCurrents.pdfVIP

CHAPTER 35 TIDES AND TIDAL CURRENTS ORIGINS OF TIDES 3500. Introduction Newton’s universal law of gravitation governs both the orbits of celestial bodies and the tide-generating forces Tides are the periodic motion of the waters of the sea which occur on them. The force of gravitational attraction due to changes in the attractive forces of the Moon and Sun between any two masses, m and m , is given by: 1 2 upon the rotating Earth. Tides can either help or hinder a mariner. A high tide may provide enough depth to clear a Gm1m2 =F bar, while a low tide may prevent entering or leaving a 2 d harbor. Tidal current may help progress or hinder it, may set the ship toward dangers or away from them. By understanding tides and making intelligent use of where d is the distance between the two masses, and G is the predictions published, the navigator can plan an universal gravitational constant which depends upon the expeditious and safe passage through tidal waters. units employed. This law assumes that m and m are point