Waves

Waves.mp3
Waves.mp4
Waves-Unplugged-Underground-XIX.mp3
Waves-Unplugged-Underground-XIX.mp4
Waves-intro.mp3

[Intro]
Begin (the waves roll in)
About (to roll back out)

[Verse 1]
General relativity
Never ceases to amaze me
Gradients pullin’ more than the far side
Watching the rising and falling tide

[Chorus]
Begin (the waves roll in)
About (to roll back out)
The waves roll in (again)
The waves roll out (no doubt)

[Bridge]
The sea is calling
(Rising and falling)
It’s rising high
(Toward the sky)
Then, you know
(Falling low)

[Verse 2]
Ah, the inertial force
Of course
Barycenter front and center
Going to divulge her bulge
High and low… here we go

[Chorus]
Begin (the waves roll in)
About (to roll back out)
The waves roll in (again)
The waves roll out (no doubt)

[Bridge]
The sea is calling
(Rising and falling)
[Instrumental, Organ Solo]
It’s rising high
(Toward the sky)
Then, you know
(Falling low)

[Chorus]
Begin (the waves roll in)
About (to roll back out)
The waves roll in (again)
The waves roll out (no doubt)

[Outro]
The sea is calling
(Rising and falling)

A SCIENCE NOTE

Tides on Earth are the result of gravitational interactions between the Earth, the Moon, the Sun, and the warping of spacetime. Here’s a breakdown of how each plays a role:

1. Moon’s Gravity (Primary Influence)

• The Moon’s gravitational pull creates a bulge in Earth’s oceans on the side facing the Moon.

• At the same time, there’s a second bulge on the opposite side of the Earth due to the inertial force (Earth and Moon orbiting a common center of mass, or barycenter).

• These bulges result in two high tides and two low tides each day as the Earth rotates.

2. Sun’s Gravity (Secondary Influence)

• The Sun is much farther away but much more massive, so its gravity also affects tides.

• When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned (during new moon and full moon), their gravitational forces combine, producing spring tides (higher highs and lower lows).

• When the Sun and Moon are at right angles (during first and third quarters), they partially cancel each other out, leading to neap tides (less extreme).

3. Earth’s Rotation

• As the Earth rotates, different areas pass through the tidal bulges, experiencing rising and falling sea levels about every 12.5 hours.

• Earth’s rotation also causes a slight lag, pulling the bulges ahead of the Moon’s position—this has long-term effects, like slowing Earth’s rotation and pushing the Moon farther away over time.

4. Spacetime and Tidal Forces

• According to Einstein’s General Relativity, massive objects like the Moon and the Sun warp spacetime.

• These warps create gravitational gradients—stronger pull on the side closer to the Moon/Sun than on the far side.

• These gradients are what cause tidal forces: the differential in gravitational pull that stretches the Earth and its oceans.

Summary

From the album “Roll“