However, the time it takes Earth to reach the same position in relation to the Moon is, on average, 24 hours and 50 minutes, known as a lunar day. This is known as a solar day, and it lasts around 24 hours. So, why is that?Ī day on Earth is the time it takes our planet to spin once around its own axis in relation to the Sun. Tides are one of the most reliable phenomena in the world, and we know that they move in and out around twice a day, but not exactly. Sleep, crime, and menstruation: how the Moon affects humans High and Low Nearly Twice a Day In some places, the water flows freely and quickly, while in other areas, where the water has to pass through narrow channels, it moves more slowly. As a result, the tides behave more like water sloshing around in an oddly shaped bathtub than in a smooth and even basin. This is because the water in the oceans is constrained by the shape and distance between the continents as well as varying ocean depths. It can range from almost no difference to over 16 meters (over 50 feet). However, the variation between high and low tide is very different from place to place. Mid-ocean, each tidal “wave” is just under a meter high, compared to the water level of the two troughs between them. Due to Earth's rotation, the two bulges act like two expansive “waves” continuously undulating around our planet. The overall effect of these tidal forces is to “squeeze” the oceans, and produce two tidal bulges on opposite sides of the Earth-one facing the Moon and a slightly smaller one facing away from the Moon (see illustration). The Sun's gravitational force, on the other hand, varies much less because the Sun is so far away. The tidal forces of the Moon are much stronger than the Sun's because it is so much closer to our planet, causing a much greater variation in the gravitational force from one location to another. This variation creates the differential forces or tidal forces that in turn cause tides. Rather, tides are created because the strength and direction of the gravitational pull varies depending on where on Earth you are. This is because, contrary to common belief, tides are not caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon or the Sun lifting up the oceans-their gravitational pull is much too weak for that. Although the Sun's gravitational pull on the Earth is 178 times stronger than the Moon's, the tidal bulges it causes are much smaller. While both the Moon and the Sun influence the ocean tides, the Moon plays the biggest role. Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).
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