The following are the reasons for tides in the ocean ¹ ²:
- The gravitational pull of the moon on the Earth causes tides.
- The moon's gravitational pull causes the ocean water to bulge in two places: one on the side of the Earth facing the moon and the other on the opposite side of the Earth.
- High tides occur when the Earth rotates into the bulge of the ocean.
- Low tides occur when the Earth rotates out of the bulge of the ocean.
- The sun also has a gravitational pull on the Earth, which affects the tides, although it is much weaker than the moon's.
- The combined effect of the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun results in spring tides, which are the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.
- Neap tides, which are the lowest high tides and the highest low tides, occur when the moon is at a right angle to the sun.
- The Earth's rotation, the shape of the ocean floor and the shape of the coast also affect the tides.
