The Moon is seen to keep one face toward Earth at all times.If viewed from a point directly above the plane of the planetary system,how does it have to rotate to maintain this alignment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Moon must rotate once per month, or once per orbit around Earth, to maintain its alignment with Earth. This is known as synchronous rotation or tidal locking. The same gravitational forces that cause the tides on Earth also cause the Moon to gradually slow down its rotation until it becomes tidally locked with Earth. Therefore, the Moon always shows the same face to us, but it does rotate on its axis once per orbit around Earth.

The Moon Is Seen to Keep One Face Toward Earth