Imagine for a moment the Earth as a colossal spinning top, rotating on its axis. As our planet rotates, different parts of its surface experience varying degrees of gravitational pull from the Moon. This gravitational force causes the oceans to bulge, resulting in the rise and fall of sea levels that we know as tides.
The Earth's rotation creates two high tides and two low tides every day. As a particular location on Earth rotates towards the Moon, it experiences a high tide. Conversely, as it rotates away from the Moon, a low tide occurs. These tidal patterns are repeated approximately every 12 hours and 25 minutes, aligning with the Moon's orbit around the Earth.
But what about the Sun? Although the Moon's gravitational pull is more influential, the Sun also contributes to the creation of tides. When the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, their combined gravitational force enhances the tides, leading to higher high tides known as spring tides. Conversely, when the Sun and Moon are at right angles, their gravitational forces counteract each other, resulting in lower high tides referred to as neap tides.