Tidal forces are gravitational forces exerted on different parts of a object by a second object. Their effects are particularly visible on Earth's surface in the form of tides. To understand the origin of tidal forces, consider Earth-Moon system to consist of two spherical bodies, each with a spherical mass distribution. Let RE be the radius of Earth, m be the mass of the Moon, and G be the gravitational constant. Part B Since the gravitational force between two bodies decreses with distance, the accelaeration a(near) experienced by a unit mass located at the point on the earth's surface closest to moon is slightly different from the acceleration a(far) experienced by a unit mass located at the point on the earth's surface farthest from the moon. Give a general expresion for the quantity a(near)- a(far).

Tidal forces are gravitational forces exerted on different parts of a object by a second object. Their effects are particularly visible on Earth's surface in the form of tides. To understand the origin of tidal forces, consider Earth-Moon system to consist of two spherical bodies, each with a spherical mass distribution. Let RE be the radius of Earth, m be the mass of the Moon, and G be the gravitational constant. Part B Since the gravitational force between two bodies decreses with distance, the accelaeration a(near) experienced by a unit mass located at the point on the earth's surface closest to moon is slightly different from the acceleration a(far) experienced by a unit mass located at the point on the earth's surface farthest from the moon. Give a general expresion for the quantity a(near)- a(far).