Imagine you're on a swing. When someone pushes you, you go higher, that’s like how the Moon pulls the ocean up to make high tides. But when the Moon is on the other side of Earth, it also pulls the water from the opposite side, making another high tide. That means there are usually two high tides and two low tides each day.
The Moon's Magic
The Moon’s gravity tugs the ocean like a giant invisible hand. When you’re close to the Moon, the water rises, that’s high tide. When the Moon is far away, the water falls, that’s low tide.
The Sun Joins In
Sometimes the Sun also helps pull on the oceans. This makes tides even bigger, these are called spring tides.
Examples
- When you're at the beach during a full moon, the water comes in really high, that's a spring tide!
- You notice the ocean slowly rising and falling every day like it’s breathing, that's the Moon pulling the water.
- On a boat ride, the water gets deeper under your feet, that's when the tide is coming in.
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See also
- What Causes the ‘Tides’ and How Are They Affected by the Moon?
- How Does the Moon Affect Our Tides?
- What Causes the Tides and How Are They Measured?
- What Causes the ‘Tides’ and Why Are They Predictable?
- What Causes the ‘Tides’ and How High Can They Get?
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