How Does the Moon Affect Earth’s Tides?

The moon pulls on the water in the ocean like a giant magnet. When it's close to Earth, it makes the water rise and fall, creating tides. The side of Earth facing the moon gets a big high tide, while the opposite side also gets one because the moon pulls harder on Earth than on the far side of the ocean. This happens twice every day, like a dance between the moon and the sea.

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Examples

  1. A kid on the beach sees the ocean come up to their ankles during high tide.
  2. The water gets deeper when the moon is overhead and shallower when it's out of sight.
  3. A boat floats higher in the sea as a big wave passes by.

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Categories: Physics · tides· moon· gravity