The gravitational tug of war at right angles

Why the ocean has tides

Chapter 1

The cosmic tug of war

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Chapter 2

The Sun enters the dance

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Answer

Chapter 3

Coastal shapes and local rhythms

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Chapter 4

Tides and the web of life

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YOUR GOAL

Master of Why the ocean has tides

Ch 2 · The Sun enters the dance

nic The Sun's surprisingly weak tidal power

nic Spring Tides

Sun and Moon / pull as one / oceans rise!

nic The gravitational tug of war at right angles

The Sun's surprisingly weak tidal power

nic Despite its immense mass, the Sun's extreme distance makes its tidal force less than half that of the Moon.

The gravitational tug of war at right angles

nic When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to Earth, their gravitational pulls partially cancel each other out.

Wave Waltz or Tidal Dance-Off or The Ocean

BETA

nic Drag the Moon into orbit to discover how gravity pulls the ocean's daily tides.

Fun Fact

Leaping tides: The word 'spring' in spring tides comes from an Old English word meaning 'to leap,' not the season.

Gossip

Which tide name sounds cooler to you?

Quiz

What is the scientific term for the Moon's closest orbital point to Earth?

nic When gravity joins forces during alignments

Quiz

About how strong is the Sun's tidal pulling force compared to the Moon's?

nic How extreme king tides are created

Quiz

What does the word 'spring' in spring tide actually refer to?

Quiz

What is a 'king tide' officially called by oceanographers?

Quiz

How often do neap tides occur during a single lunar month?

Quiz

What happens to the difference between high and low tide during a neap tide?

Quiz

What are the weaker tides called that occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles?

Quiz

During which moon phases do the highest high tides, known as spring tides, occur?