If the tide-producing force is proportional to G × M/R³, then the moon exerts a greater tide-raising force than the sun due to the difference in their masses rather than a difference in their distances from the earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tide-producing force is indeed proportional to the mass of the celestial body (M) and inversely proportional to the cube of the distance (R^3) between the celestial body and the Earth. Although the Sun is much more massive than the Moon, the Moon exerts a greater tide-raising force on the Earth primarily because it is much closer to the Earth than the Sun, making the distance factor more significant than the mass factor in this context.

If the Tide-Producing Force Is Proportional to G × M/R3

If the Tide-Producing Force Is Proportional to G × M/R³