How Does Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains the Tides Work?

Neil deGrasse Tyson explains that the tides are like a giant game of pull and push between Earth and Moon.

Imagine you're playing with your friend in a pool. When your friend pulls you toward them, you move closer, that's like when the Moon pulls on the ocean, making a high tide. But when your friend lets go, you drift back, that’s like when the ocean moves away from the Moon, creating a low tide.

Now imagine there are two friends pulling you at the same time, one from the front and one from behind. That’s what happens with the Sun too! Sometimes the Sun helps pull on the ocean, making the tides even bigger, these are called spring tides. Other times, the Sun and Moon pull in different directions, and the tides are smaller, those are neap tides.

It's like having two friends who sometimes work together and sometimes don’t. The Moon is the main player, but the Sun can help or get in the way, depending on where it is. That’s why we have high and low tides every day, just like you moving closer and farther from your friend in the pool!