2007-06-27 08:43:22 · 8 answers · asked by Sophos 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The correct explanation was given by Newton in 1687. The Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth and the water on it, but the force of the Moon's gravity varies across of the Earth. The pull is greater on the side facing the Moon, pulling the water there closer to the Moon, while the pull is weaker on the side away from the Moon, making the water there lag behind. This stretches out the Earth and the water on it, creating two bulges. Remember that both the Earth and the Moon are falling towards each other. The reason why they don't collide, is that they already have a motion perpendicular to the direction in which they are falling, so the falling only results in a change in that direction.
MUCH more at the web page!
2007-06-27 08:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by Indiana Frenchman 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are two tides a day because the tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. This causes the water to build at the point directly under the moon where gravity is highest and at the point on the opposite side of the earth where the gravity attraction is the least. This "wave" then follows the moon as it orbits the earth. Thus shortly after the moon passes overhead the tide comes in and when the moon passes on the opposite side of the earth a second tide comes in. Check Wikipedia for pictures and graphs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide
2007-06-27 15:49:33 · answer #2 · answered by Tom 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Everyone above me is wrong ;)
We don't have two tides in one day.... we have one.
The tide is a 'bulge' in the water caused by the gravitational pull of the moon (in laymen's terms) it follows it all around the globe.. we have ONE tide that follows the moon... when the moon is closer to one shore than the other.. one side has a higher amount of water (called high-tide) and the other has a lower amount (called low-tide).
There aren't two tides :)
2007-06-27 16:13:07 · answer #3 · answered by Scallawag 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
A tide is a quadrupole distortion (see "Roche limit") - contracted at the middle and elongated along the axis of the two bodies' centers of mass. The moon's orbit is slow compared to the Earth's rotation and is roughly aligned with the Equator. A given spot on the Earth then rotates through all four zones each approximate day.
2007-06-27 15:50:56 · answer #4 · answered by Uncle Al 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Tides form on each side of the planet.
2007-06-30 13:07:20 · answer #5 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We have tides because of the Moon's gravitational pull. Check out this fantastic site below to read more in depth about it :)
2007-06-27 15:47:17 · answer #6 · answered by Pandamay 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Rising moon and waning moon i think ?
2007-06-27 15:47:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
cuz of da moon.
2007-06-27 15:51:05 · answer #8 · answered by Ari 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋