1. What are Tides? 🌊
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Tides are the regular rise and fall of ocean water levels.
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They happen because of the Moon’s gravity (and a smaller effect from the Sun’s gravity).
2. Why Do Tides Happen?
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The Moon’s gravity pulls on Earth’s water.
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This makes the water bulge on the side facing the Moon.
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Another bulge happens on the opposite side (due to Earth being pulled slightly too).
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As Earth spins, different places move through these bulges → that’s why we see tides change every day.
3. Types of Tides
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High tide: when water level is at its highest.
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Low tide: when water level is at its lowest.
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Most places on Earth get two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours.
4. Sun’s Effect (Spring & Neap Tides)
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Spring tide (not about the season 🌱): happens when the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up (new moon, full moon). Water level difference is the greatest (very high, very low).
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Neap tide: happens when the Sun and Moon are at right angles (first quarter, third quarter). Water level difference is the smallest.
5. Water Level Changes
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At high tide → water covers more of the shore.
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At low tide → water pulls back, exposing more beach and rocks.
✨ In short:
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Tides are caused by the Moon’s (and Sun’s) gravity.
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They make ocean water rise (high tide) and fall (low tide).
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The cycle happens twice a day.
Would you like me to draw a simple diagram of Earth, Moon, and tides so you can see how the water bulges and why tides happen?
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