Gravity and Tides

How does the relative position of the Sun, Earth, and Moon causes tides on Earth? How do the times of high and low tide along the Atlantic Ocean change each day and throughout the month? Is there any relationship between moonrise and moonset times and tides? Does the phase of the Moon affect tides?

Tide: the periodic rise and fall of the ocean sea level and other water on Earth. The gravitational attraction between the Moon and Earth (and the Sun and Earth) contributes to the formation of tides. The moon has more of a gravitational pull on Earth than the Sun because it is closer

High Tide: ocean water swells to its highest point Low Tide: ocean water sinks to its lowest level Tidal Cycle: takes a little more than 6 hours for rising waters to reach high tide, and approximately another 6 hours for falling waters to reach low tide There are two high/low tides in a day

Spring and Neap Tides Spring Tides: higher – than – normal high tides occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in line (New Moon, Full Moon) Neap Tides: lower – than – normal high tides occur when the Sun and the Moon are at right angles to each other (First Quarter, Third (Last) Quarter.