What Causes the Tides on Earth?

The moon pulls the ocean like a giant magnet. Imagine you're holding a balloon filled with water, and someone gently tugs it from afar, the water moves toward them. That's what happens on Earth: when the moon is near, it pulls the water up, creating a high tide, and when it moves away, we get a low tide.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. When you're at the beach during high tide, it's like the ocean is being pulled toward the moon.
  2. Low tide feels like the water has gone to sleep for a while.
  3. Imagine the moon as a giant magnet that pulls on the ocean, and sometimes even on your feet.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity

Nothing here yet.

Categories: Physics · tides· gravity· moon· earth