This started with something else. Let me give you the super short version.
Bill O’Reilly tries to prove the existence of God because he doesn’t understand how the tides work.
Stephen Colbert sort of agrees (as expected).
Neil deGrasse Tyson comes in to explain the tides.
Here is that clip.
The Colbert ReportMon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Bill O’Reilly Proves God’s Existence – Neil deGrasse Tyson
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<p>And what](http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/March to Keep Fear Alive)my point? Fi, Neil deGrasse Tyson IS DA BOMB! (that is a good thing) Second, I know he only had like 30 seconds to explain the tides. However, he fell into one of the classic blunders. The most famous is never get involved in <em>a land war in Asia</em>, only slightly lesw is to not try and explain the tides in such a short time.</p> <p>Neil’s explanation w
stially that the tides are caused by the moon. Here is essentially what he said:</p> <blockquote> <p>The cha
g> ad by a couple of factors….but mostly the moon. As the moon orbits the Earth, the gravitational force exerts a pull on the side of the Earth closest to the moon and that raises the tides.</p>
of introductory astronomy textbooks say – but it really isn’t the best answer. In fact, that is wrong. If the tides are caused by the gravitational force from the moon, why is there a tidal bulge also on the other side of the Earth (two tides a day)?</p> <p>Well, if I were invi
othe <a href="http://www.colbertnly) what woulday? In as short of time as possible, I would say:</p> <blockquote> <p>The Ear
n> reach other. The center of this orbital motion is not the center of the Earth. This causes different parts of the Earth to accelerate different amounts and makes the water move different amounts.</p>
lanation. However, it is better than just saying “the gravitational force from the moon”. <a href="http://scienceblogs</a>.</p> <p>The following id
ahowing the Earth. The red dot is the center of rotation for the Earth-moon system. The white dot is the center of the Earth.<br>
<img src="https://www.w
.
rating frame. If you want to, you could represent this acceleration with fake forces. So, the yellow vector arrows represent a combination of the gravitational force from the moon and the fake forces due to the acceleration of the Earth. BOOM. There you will get two bulges.</p>
<p>See. That wasn’t too
flt. Well, it is sort of difficult. The biggest problem is that people that want a simple explanation for something that isn’t so simple.</p>
