The moon influences tides on Earth from "summary" of The Secret World of Stargazing by Adrian West
The gravitational pull of the moon affects the waters of the Earth in a phenomenon known as tides. As the moon orbits our planet, its gravitational force tugs on the water, creating a bulge on the side of the Earth closest to the moon. This bulge is what we experience as a high tide. At the same time, on the opposite side of the Earth, there is another high tide due to the centrifugal force caused by the Earth's rotation.
The areas in between these two high tides experience low tide. The combined gravitational forces of the moon and the sun also play a role in the tides we observe. When the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, their gravitational forces reinforce each other, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides, known as spring tides. Conversely, when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other with respect to Earth, their gravitational forces counteract each other, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides, known as neap tides.
The timing of tides is influenced by the movement of the moon around the Earth. It takes approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes for the Earth to complete a full rotation with respect to the moon, causing a delay in the timing of high and low tides each day. This is why high tides do not occur at the same time every day but instead follow a tidal pattern that repeats roughly every 24 hours and 50 minutes.
In addition to the moon's influence on tides, other factors such as the shape of coastlines, the depth of ocean basins, and the Earth's rotation also play a role in determining the specific tides experienced in different regions. Understanding the complex interactions between these various factors is essential for predicting tides accurately and comprehensively.
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