What Causes the Earth’s Tides to Rise and Fall?

The Earth’s tides go up and down because of the moon pulling on the Earth like a giant magnet.

Imagine you’re in a bathtub full of water. If your friend grabs one side of the tub and pulls it toward them, the water near that side gets pulled up, making a little wave. That’s what happens with the ocean, but instead of a friend, it's the moon pulling on Earth.

The moon is far away, but it has enough gravity to pull on Earth’s oceans. When the moon pulls on one side of Earth, that side gets a big high tide. On the opposite side, the water also gets pulled up because Earth itself is being pulled toward the moon, like when you're holding onto something and get pulled forward, leaving your friend behind.

Sometimes the sun joins in the pulling game. When the sun and moon pull in the same direction, their combined force makes even bigger tides called spring tides. When they pull in opposite directions, the tides are smaller, these are called neap tides.

Tides are like a magical dance between Earth, the moon, and sometimes the sun! The Earth’s tides go up and down because of the moon pulling on the Earth like a giant magnet.

Imagine you’re in a bathtub full of water. If your friend grabs one side of the tub and pulls it toward them, the water near that side gets pulled up, making a little wave. That’s what happens with the ocean, but instead of a friend, it's the moon pulling on Earth.

The moon is far away, but it has enough gravity to pull on Earth’s oceans. When the moon pulls on one side of Earth, that side gets a big high tide. On the opposite side, the water also gets pulled up because Earth itself is being pulled toward the moon, like when you're holding onto something and get pulled forward, leaving your friend behind.

Sometimes the sun joins in the pulling game. When the sun and moon pull in the same direction, their combined force makes even bigger tides called spring tides. When they pull in opposite directions, the tides are smaller, these are called neap tides.

Tides are like a magical dance between Earth, the moon, and sometimes the sun!