Moon And Earth: The Influence Of Tides

The Earth experiences tides in its oceans, by gravitational interaction between the Earth, Moon and Sun. The Moon is the biggest factor of tides occurring. It has 2.2 more power on tides than the sun does. The Moon and earth apply a gravitational pull on each other, and since most things on earth is pinned down they stay in place. But, the oceans being fluid can be pulled toward the moon causing tides.And since the earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day.

While the Sun and the rotation of the Earth both have some tidal impact, the location of the Moon has the biggest affect on the tide. The gravity of the Moon causes a high tide both on the side of the Earth directly below the Moon (sublunar tide) and the opposite side of the Earth (antipodal). Low tides are on the sides of the Earth 90 degrees away from the Moon.

Tides cycle as the Moon rotates around the Earth and as the position of the Sun changes. Throughout the day the sea level is continuously rising or falling.
The sea level rises
2. High tide is reached
3. The sea level falls
4. Low tide is reached
5. Back to number 1

This cycle can happen once or twice a day depending on the location of the area of the Moon. Tides that happen once a day are called diurnal. Tides that happen twice a day are called semidiurnal. Because the Earth rotates in the same direction as the Moon, the cycle is longer than a day at 24 hours and 50