Difference between revisions of "Tides"
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(As the sun rises in the east and the stars come out at night, we are confident that the ocean waters will regularly rise and fall along our shores.) |
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Tides on the [[Earth]] result from the [[Moon]]'s gravity, which is just enough stronger on the near side of the earth to attract ocean water more than on the far side. Fishermen, sailors and other observers have long noted that the twice-daily cycle of high tides and low tides is corresponds to the moon's orbit. | Tides on the [[Earth]] result from the [[Moon]]'s gravity, which is just enough stronger on the near side of the earth to attract ocean water more than on the far side. Fishermen, sailors and other observers have long noted that the twice-daily cycle of high tides and low tides is corresponds to the moon's orbit. | ||
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| + | A noteworthy observation is that the moon is less effective at creating a tidal effect on smaller bodies of water, such as lakes. This is remains today an unexplained phenomenon. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[tidal coupling]] | *[[tidal coupling]] | ||
*[[gravitational locking]] | *[[gravitational locking]] | ||
Revision as of 19:38, December 28, 2007
Tides are one of the most reliable phenomena in the world. As the sun rises in the east and the stars come out at night, we are confident that the ocean waters will regularly rise and fall along our shores. [1]
Tides on the Earth result from the Moon's gravity, which is just enough stronger on the near side of the earth to attract ocean water more than on the far side. Fishermen, sailors and other observers have long noted that the twice-daily cycle of high tides and low tides is corresponds to the moon's orbit.
A noteworthy observation is that the moon is less effective at creating a tidal effect on smaller bodies of water, such as lakes. This is remains today an unexplained phenomenon.