system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What does it mean to be tidal locked to something?

I am under the understanding that the moon is tidaly locked to earth, what does that mean and why has this arisen?
gpt
Tidal locking means that the same face of the Moon always points toward Earth.

This occurs because tidal forces--the difference in gravitational tug from the Earth between different parts of the Moon-- cause small distortions and stretches in the shape of the Moon. These distortions dissipate the moon's rotational energy, slowing its rotation until eventually ~~it stops.~~ its rotational period is equal to its orbital period.