● Explain how the moon impacts Earth’s tides

1 answer

The moon impacts Earth's tides through the gravitational pull it exerts on the Earth. The gravitational force of the moon attracts the Earth's oceans towards it, causing the water to bulge on the side of the Earth closest to the moon. This creates a high tide on that side. On the opposite side of the Earth, there is also a bulge created by the centrifugal force resulting from the Earth rotating around its axis. This leads to another high tide on the side of the Earth farthest from the moon.

As the Earth rotates on its axis, different parts of the planet experience these bulges at different times, resulting in two high tides and two low tides each day. The gravitational pull of the sun also plays a role in the tides, but the effect is not as significant as that of the moon due to its greater distance from the Earth.

Overall, the moon's gravitational pull is the primary factor influencing Earth's tides, and its presence and position in relation to the Earth play a crucial role in determining the timing and height of tides around the world.