Does the sun affect the tides like the moon?
Yes, but to a lesser extent than the moon, which is the main determinant of our tides. You can work out if we are on a neap tide or a spring tide - that's a high tide or a low tide - depending on whether these two celestial bodies line up with each other. When the sun is in alighnment with the moon we have a new moon (which means you can't see it because it is not illuminated and is dark) and the two bodies work together gravitationally, producing a spring tide. Two weeks later, however, the moon is at 90 degrees to the sun, so they're not in alignment, so you have a neap tide. Two weeks after that you have a full moon and the two are working together again, and you have a spring tide.
Showing posts with label Does the sun affect the tides like the moon?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Does the sun affect the tides like the moon?. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Does the sun affect the tides like the moon?
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