2006-09-16 02:43:40 · 19 answers · asked by sweetirish 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Gravity has the effect of displacing the water on the earth. The sun also has an effect, which is why in any lunar month we have 'spring' tides which are larger and 'neap' tides which are smaller. Spring tides occur when the moon and sun are aligned and neap when they are on opposite sides of the earth.
2006-09-16 02:46:24 · answer #1 · answered by fearsome_gibbon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tides are created because the Earth and the moon are attracted to each other, just like magnets are attracted to each other. The moon tries to pull at anything on the Earth to bring it closer. But, the Earth is able to hold onto everything except the water. Since the water is always moving, the Earth cannot hold onto it, and the moon is able to pull at it. Each day, there are two high tides and two low tides. The ocean is constantly moving from high tide to low tide, and then back to high tide. There is about 12 hours and 25 minutes between the two high tides
2006-09-16 03:06:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to universal gravitational law, The objects in the universe attract each other. The size of the force of attraction is direct proportional to the product of the mass involved and vary inversely to the square of the distance separating the two masses. Earth and moon are among the bodies in the universe. And so they pull each other as stated in the law. water being the loosely held compered to the solid earth is very much affected by the pull hence the tides. Area of the earth facing the moon high tides result. While on the other side low tides.
2006-09-16 03:00:38 · answer #3 · answered by nsakamaneneulelya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's easy to say that it's the moon's gravity acting on the water around the earth - which CAN move - and on the earth itself, which CAN'T - so the water piles up a bit under the moon. Unfortunately this is simplifying it just a bit too much.
The moon's gravity weakens with distance, and the distance across the earth is big enough to show this variation. The moon pulls the water nearest it the hardest, the earth in the middle by a medium amount, and the water on the far side by the least amount. So the nearest water moves towards it most, the whole earth moves a medium amount, and the farthest-away water moves least. That is how we have two tidal bulges, one on each side, instead of just one tidal bulge under the moon.
2006-09-16 05:57:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon has gravity, just like the Earth. The moon's is not as strong, but it is strong enough to have some influence on the Earth, like effecting the tides.
2006-09-16 02:51:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the moons gravity that effects the tide, it also effects the land, but as that is solid you dont see the effect. Its only on very large stretches of water that the effect can be seen, the moon has a very weak gravity, thank goodness.
2006-09-16 02:56:19 · answer #6 · answered by mike-from-spain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pull of the moons gravity pulls on the sea, creating tides. See the link (Which was a classic Wikipedia search to illustrate - 0/10 for originality - sorry) for heaps more infomation.
2006-09-16 02:44:32 · answer #7 · answered by Felidae 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon effects the tides more than the sun because of its gravitational pull and its proximity.
2006-09-16 06:45:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pull of gravity..
The water is free to move as it is pulled towards the moon as the moon circles the earth..
The land is subject to the same gravitational forces but it is not as fluid as the water so you do not notice any movement of the land.
2006-09-16 02:52:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moons gravity pulls on one side of the earth. This force causes the water to become oblong. Like tipping a bowl the water goes more to one side.
2006-09-16 02:46:11 · answer #10 · answered by golgofrinchian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋