Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
According to what pattern do sunrises, sunsets, moonrises and moonsets change?

The movements of bodies in the central gravitational field are described by Kepler's laws, of which only law 3 has the form of a formula. Isaac Newton used Kepler's laws to formulate (his) law of gravity. For the calculation, we can use Newton's law of gravity, thanks to which we can find out important information — the distance between the Earth and the Moon and the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
Or we will simplify the situation and consider the movements of the Earth-Sun and the Moon-Earth as movements along a circle (which is not far from the truth) and then we only solve a simple arithmetical problem with the position of a point on a circle, when we know how long it takes the given object to make one revolution.
If we want the result to be more accurate, we have to also take into account the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun (which is roughly 23°). Thanks to the tilt of the Earth's axis, the seasons change on the Earth.
More mysteries
Keep exploring questions other readers asked.

Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
Why is it not possible to effectively predict earthquakes?
An earthquake is caused by a sudden release of mechanical stress between (or within) lithospheric plates. I'm not a geologist, but I believe this stress is caused by temperature differences and other phenomena that occur…
Read the answer
Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
Why does a tsunami wave only go in one direction and not in all directions?
A tsunami wave, like other waves, spreads in all directions but the effects of a tsunami are observed only in certain places, so it may seem that the tsunami wave is moving in only one direction. Tsunami waves are caused…
Read the answer
Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
How are high tide and low tide created and why are they needed or important on the Earth?
The high tide and associated low tide are caused by the gravitational force acted by the Earth and the Moon on each other. Thanks to this force, the Moon orbits around us and does not fly away. This gravitational effect…
Read the answerWant to ask something?
Send us an e-mail with the subject "Physics mysteries" to the address below, or use the contact form.
We can't wait to tackle your interesting questions!