synchronous rotation
noun Astronomy.
rotation of a satellite in which the period of rotation is equal to the period of orbit around its primary, leaving the same face always pointing toward the primary: The moon is in synchronous rotation about the earth.
RELATED CONTENT
“Daylight Savings Time” And More Commonly Mixed-Up WordsEvery March and November, most Americans change their clocks to keep up with the switch into or out of daylight-saving time. This practice of advancing the clocks ahead an hour is called daylight-saving time. But, because daylight savings time is used so frequently, the term is also considered acceptable. Daylight saving time means that since the clock is moved ahead one hour, you get one …
Nearby words
- synchronous converter,
- synchronous machine,
- synchronous meteorological satellite,
- synchronous motor,
- synchronous orbit,
- synchronous speed,
- synchronously,
- synchrony,
- synchroscope,
- synchrotron
Origin of synchronous rotation
First recorded in 1970–75
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
synchronous rotation
The rotation of an orbiting body on its axis in the same amount of time as it takes to complete a full orbit, with the result that the same face is always turned toward the body it is orbiting. Synchronous rotation is the result of tidal forces that over time slow the rotation of the smaller body until it is synchronized with its period of revolution around the larger body. The Earth's Moon exhibits synchronous rotation, as do a majority of moons in the solar system. Also called captured rotation Compare synchronous orbit.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.