Why Do Tides Go in and Out?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do tides go in and out?

The Big Idea

The Moon tugs on Earth's oceans, and the water bulges toward it. Earth turns under those bulges. So a beach sees the bulge as high tide, and the water line rises and falls. High tide and low tide come around again and again, like clockwork.

The Moon Tugs

Step one: the Moon tugs on the ocean. The Moon's gravity pulls gently on Earth's water. The water piles up into a bulge facing the Moon. There is a matching bulge on the far side of Earth, so many places see two high tides and two low tides a day.

Earth Turns

Step two: Earth turns under the bulge. Our planet spins once a day, so a beach rides into the bulge and out again. Most beaches get two high tides every day. A full cycle of high tide to low tide takes about six hours, so the water line moves all day long.

The Water Line Falls

Step three: the beach meets high water. When the bulge passes by, the water line falls again. That is low tide, and then the cycle starts over.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at the tides! The Moon pulls on the ocean from far away. Where the water bulges, you get high tide. And between the bulges, you get low tide.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The Sun tugs too, but the Moon does more of the job. Most beaches get two high tides a day. Check a tide chart before a long beach walk. The ocean is not draining away. It is sloshing on a huge scale.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Visit a beach with a grown-up at the edge of the water. Push a stick into the sand right at the water's edge. Wait 30 minutes. Where is the water now, and why? Scientists check their results over and over. Happy exploring!

Outro

The ocean sloshes with the Moon, not down a hole! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!