Question

in 3-5 sentences, explain how gravity cause earth's tides

Answer 1

Gravity plays a crucial role in causing Earth's tides through the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, its gravitational force pulls water towards it, creating a bulge on the side of the Earth facing the Moon, resulting in a high tide. Simultaneously, another bulge occurs on the opposite side due to the inertia of the water, leading to a second high tide. The Sun also exerts a gravitational influence, though its effect is less pronounced; when aligned with the Moon (during full and new moons), it enhances the tides, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides, known as spring tides. Conversely, when the Sun and Moon are at right angles relative to the Earth (during the first and third quarters of the moon), the gravitational forces partially cancel each other out, leading to lower high tides and higher low tides, known as neap tides.