How Are Tides Caused?

Tides can be defined as a predictable and regular movement of the ocean water, the alternating rise and fall in the sea level with respect to the land, resulting from the gravitation pull of the sun and the moon.

The movement of the earth, sun and the moon in respect to each other and the gravitational force causes tides. The effects of gravity and the movement of the earth, sun and moon causes alternating high tides and low tides at regular intervals.

The gravitational force of the moon causes two bulges in the water on the earth at its opposite ends. The first bulge facing the moon is the result of the moon pulling water away from earth and towards it. At the same time, anther bulge of water occurs at the opposite end and the farthest point from the moon. This is caused by the moon's gravitational force pulling the earth away from water at that end.

Gravitational pull of the moon.

Tides are caused by lunar position. As the moon rotates around earth it pulls on earth but it effects are more apparent in the water on earth. If you have a half full bottle of water (with the cap on) and turn it end over end, the water goes to the source of gravity, even though your arms create a stronger force which holds the bottle in place, the water moves to the source of gravity.