If we could somehow speed up the rotation of the earth, would this result in less axial tilt? Would the moon's orbit?

There's no particular reason why a change in the rotational speed would change the tilt. It might change the way in which the tilt wobbles, which is due in part to the fact that the earth is largely liquid, but there's no reason it would change the direction. If it gained speed because you hit it with a giant asteroid, it would probably change the direction of the tilt because it's very unlikely to hit in precisely the direction of torque.

But if it were to simply undergo a collapse, it would speed up without changing the direction of tilt, like a spinning ice skater drawing her arms in. To a first approximation, the moon wouldn't notice one way or the other. The only factor that matters in the basic gravitational equation is the distance between the centers of mass.

Rotation doesn't affect it. There are tidal effects, and speeding up the earth might cause the moon to move away from the earth a tiny bit more quickly. But since that's on the order of a couple of inches per year, it would be hard to notice.

Finally, there are relativistic frame-dragging effects, but they're so tiny that it makes the tidal effects look huge.

The reason I asked is that the faster a gyroscope goes, the more it ends up a 0 degree tilt. I was wondering if that might apply to the planet. Schelli 12 months ago .

I just had a lengthy reply to this, eaten by Askville. That's irritating. Maybe it'll come back.

Anyway, the gist of it was: you're right, I neglected the precession of the axis. That's what's happening in this video:youtube.com/watch?v=IEwAry0GARwThe effect there is noticeable because the gyroscope receives a torque from the gravitational field. The earth is in free fall, so it doesn't feel that.

However, the earth isn't quite round, and the resulting tidal effects cause a wobble called the "precession of the equinoxes". It takes 26,000 years, but it's big enough for ancient astronomers to notice. Speed up the earth and you would actually slow down the precession.

They're inversely related:hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/top.... com/watch? V=IEwAry0GARw.

The earth is like a spinning top that is slowing down...it's tilt wobbles...called precession. I would think maybe it would have less tilt if it was faster. The moon's gravity also affects it.

The moon goes around the earth once a month...if the tilt changed the moon would have to change too. Neat question! .

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.