• Question: how does the moon control the tides?

    Asked by ludev13 to Jo, Kevin on 22 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 22 Jun 2012:


      It exerts a gravitational pull on the earth!

      So it’s gravity!

      The gravitation pull between the moon and the earth causes a “buldge” of water on the side of the earth facing the moon and the side opposite. The buldge or build-up of water moves as the moon orbits the earth approximately once per day.

      This causes approximately two buldges (high tide / low tide) per day. Also important, the sun controls the tides too to a certain extent!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 22 Jun 2012:


      Yes Kevin is right it is all down to gravity!

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