<p>A body and its satellite in truth form a system and both rotate around their common centre of gravity. Hence both the Earth and Moon rotate around this centre - however because the Earth is significantly more massive than the Moon this can be approximated as the Moon orbiting the Earth.</p>

<p>The Moon does have a measurable impact on the Earth - tides are the obvious example, and tidal friction is also slowing down the Earth's rotation by a very small amount (around 2.3ms per century).</p>

<p>In the Moon's case, though, the Earth's gravitational pull has already effectively locked its rotation period with its orbital period around the Earth - so we essentially only ever see the same face of the Moon on Earth.</p>

<p>The Earth and Moon are much closer in mass than most other planet/satellite systems in the Solar System - think of the huge mass of Jupiter - and so it is difficult to show how these planets' satellites have a similar impact on the planet - but the same effects are there, albeit in much smaller scale.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T01:21:28.280Z
_by around a second or so every year _ More like a millionth of a second, chief.
Ricky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T07:50:14.410Z
yes, you are right. I thought it was the main reasons for leap seconds, but it's not. Will correct
adrianmcmenamin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T10:32:12.297Z
You'd better, otherwise someone might think that when they were building the pyramids in Egypt, each day was an hour and a half shorter.
Ricky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T23:27:19.380Z
2016-02-01T07:51:14.173Z
2016-02-01T07:51:14.173Z
adrianmcmenamin
<p>how is the rotation and revolution of a planet that does not have a
 natural satellite different from  a planet that has say 1 natural satellite
(ex. earth and moon system).</p>

<rotation><natural-satellites>
What effect does a natural satellite have on a planet's rotation and revolution?
Anupam Rekha
# What effect does a natural satellite have on a planet's rotation and revolution?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-21)

how is the rotation and revolution of a planet that does not have a
natural satellite different from a planet that has say 1 natural satellite
(ex. earth and moon system).

**Tags:** rotation, natural-satellites


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-31. Score: 1

A body and its satellite in truth form a system and both rotate around their common centre of gravity. Hence both the Earth and Moon rotate around this centre - however because the Earth is significantly more massive than the Moon this can be approximated as the Moon orbiting the Earth.

The Moon does have a measurable impact on the Earth - tides are the obvious example, and tidal friction is also slowing down the Earth's rotation by a very small amount (around 2.3ms per century).

In the Moon's case, though, the Earth's gravitational pull has already effectively locked its rotation period with its orbital period around the Earth - so we essentially only ever see the same face of the Moon on Earth.

The Earth and Moon are much closer in mass than most other planet/satellite systems in the Solar System - think of the huge mass of Jupiter - and so it is difficult to show how these planets' satellites have a similar impact on the planet - but the same effects are there, albeit in much smaller scale.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: _by around a second or so every year _ More like a millionth of a second, chief.  
> **username_1**: yes, you are right. I thought it was the main reasons for leap seconds, but it's not. Will correct  
> **username_2**: You'd better, otherwise someone might think that when they were building the pyramids in Egypt, each day was an hour and a half shorter.  

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