What causes ocean tides?

Question

Please also include factors that effect the tides period and size.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

The moon causes the tides. When it is overhead and when it is underneath. The Sun also causes tides, but it is a smaller effect. When the Sun and Moon line up, the tides are stronger, and when they are on opposite sides of the earth the tides tend to cancel out and are smaller.

Tides also depend a lot on the shape of the ocean floor near the shore (is it shalow or deep, etc.)

Answer 2

The gravitational forces caused by the moon.

Source(s):

me.

Answer 3

The gravitational pull of the Moon.