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The Moon Is Thought To Have Formed Closer To The Earth Than It Is Now
Sat Nov 12 16:52:48 GMT 2011 by SteveR
Not by geologists it isn't. Because there is no evidence in the geological record of the huge tidal ranges that would have resulted.
I have long wondered where this old chestnut comes from - doubtless it was down to someone hard of thinking who, knowing that bodies further out orbit at lower velocities, thought that by slowing down a body moves further out.
Well duh, try that on a 'wall of death' and see whether it works or not, then come back and repost and I will eat my puff pastry wig in contrition.
To move to a higher orbit you need to speed up but to stay there you need to slow down - and vice versa.
If tidal forces can first speed the moon up to get it further away, then slow it down to keep it there I would be genuinely interested to see how it can be done.