What Causes the ‘Tides’ and How Do They Change Daily?

The moon pulls the water, like a giant magnet. When the moon is close to Earth, it tugs on the oceans, making them rise. When it moves away, they fall back down. Sometimes the sun helps too, making bigger tides. That’s why we see two high tides and two low tides each day, like the ocean is breathing in and out.

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Examples

A child playing on the beach notices the water coming up higher every hour.
A boat captain knows when to sail based on whether it's high or low tide.
The moon is shining bright one night, this means tomorrow’s tides will be bigger.

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Categories: Science · tides,moon,oceanography,gravity