Tidal forces

[Luigi Fortunati]

Are tidal forces real or apparent?

Are tidal forces gravitational forces?

[Sylvia Else]

Post by Luigi Fortunati
Are tidal forces real or apparent?

That's the kind of question that can lead to fisticuffs in otherwise
polite physics circles.

They're as real as the gravitational force holding you down to the
ground, except that some would argue that there's no such thing as a
gravitational force, and that what's happening is that you're being
accelerated by the upwards force from the ground.

So to avoid physical violence in these situations, you need a very
precise definition of real versus apparent.

That said, tidal forces are not as unreal as the Coriolis force that
appears to be acting on a freely moving object when the observer is in a
rotating frame.

Post by Luigi Fortunati
Are tidal forces gravitational forces?

See above.


[[Mod. note -- An additional point is that tidal forces can do work:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power
-- jt]]

[Luigi Fortunati]

Post by Sylvia Else

Post by Luigi Fortunati
Are tidal forces real or apparent?

That's the kind of question that can lead to fisticuffs in otherwise
polite physics circles.
They're as real as the gravitational force holding you down to the
ground, except that some would argue that there's no such thing as a
gravitational force, and that what's happening is that you're being
accelerated by the upwards force from the ground.
So to avoid physical violence in these situations, you need a very
precise definition of real versus apparent.
That said, tidal forces are not as unreal as the Coriolis force that
appears to be acting on a freely moving object when the observer is in a
rotating frame.

I don't have to give the very precise definition of real strength
versus apparent strength because it's in all school books.

That said, the only clear answer to my question is not to say that
"some would argue" one thing and "others would argue" something else.

The only clear answer is:
(1) tidal forces *are* real forces
or
(2) tidal forces *are* apparent forces.

One answer excludes the other.

[Sylvia Else]

Post by Sylvia Else
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power
-- jt]]

I think the same could be argued for the freely moving object in a
rotating frame. If you're the rotating observer, then you definitely do
not want to put your head in the way of a freely moving massive object,
because it will appear to be doing work on your face. One can then argue
about what is doing work on what, but the damage to the face will be the
same.

Sylvia.