What are the primary factors that influence the Earth's axial tilt?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

The axial tilt of the Earth, also known as the obliquity of the ecliptic, is the angle between the plane of the Earth's equator and the plane of its orbit around the sun. It is responsible for the changing seasons and has a significant impact on the climate and geography of the planet. The primary factors that influence the Earth's axial tilt include:

  • Gravitational forces: The gravitational forces of the Sun, Moon, and other planets in the solar system exert a torque on the Earth's equatorial bulge, causing its axis to precess over time.
  • Planetary collisions: Large collisions with other celestial bodies can also affect the Earth's axial tilt.
  • Lunisolar precession: The gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun cause the Earth's equatorial bulge to precess over time, resulting in a change in axial tilt.
  • Atmospheric drag: The Earth's atmosphere exerts a drag force on its rotation, which can cause changes in its axial tilt.