MadSci Network: Earth Sciences
Query:

Re: Why does the moon affect tides more than the sun?

Date: Mon Mar 4 18:40:31 2002
Posted By: Les Uhrich, Faculty, Physics, Pierce College
Area of science: Earth Sciences
ID: 1014985403.Es
Message:

It is not the force that causes tides; it is the DIFFERENCE in forces on the earth that causes the differential pull and hence the tides. The moon is much closer to the earth and this makes the difference in distance from moon to leading edge of earth and back side of earth more significant than that from the distant sun.

Regards

Les


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