Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth. Although the Sun has more mass than the Moon, it is very much further from the Earth. Hence its gravitational pull is just one third that of the moon. On the side of the Earth facing the Moon, and at a location exactly opposite, the earth is slightly elongated in that direction. This is called High Tide. At the same time, at the two positions at right angles, we have the opposite effect, known as Low Tide. Hence every day at the same location, we have two high tides and two low tides. If the moon was stationary, they would be exactly six hours apart, or the two high tides and the two low tides would be twelve hours apart. But since the Moon is also revolving around the Earth, each day the tides occur 48 minutes and 49 seconds later. During new moon and full moon, the effects of the Sun and the Moon are added and we have the maximum effect. This is called Spring Tide. During these periods, the High Tides are the highest and the low tides are the lowest. The difference is the greatest. On the other hand, during the First and the Last Quarters, their effect are subtracted (the Moon having the larger effect) we have the minimum effect. This is known as Neap Tides. During these times, the difference between the high and the low tide is the least. For more information click below
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|