Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-b-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2013/paper-2/section-a/a2/solution

In the ideal semidiurnal tide model, successive high tides occur after the Earth–Moon relative angle advances by . Since the motions have the same sense, subtract their angular speeds:
The lunar orbital period is sidereal, so the consistent terrestrial rotation period is . With , this gives about 12 h 25 min. The sidereal terrestrial period is distinct from the 24-hour solar day.[ref]
If the Earth's rotation is approximated as one revolution in 24 hours, the same calculation instead gives 12 h 27 min. That small difference is the day convention, not a change of sign in the relative angular speed. Actual coastal tide times also depend on ocean dynamics and the solar tide.

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