why do we have 2 high tides and two low tides every 24 hours?
The two high tides and two low tides that occur every 24 hours are due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the Earth's oceans. As the Earth rotates on its axis, the gravitational pull of the moon, and to a lesser extent the sun, causes the water in the oceans to be attracted towards them. This attraction causes a bulge in the ocean on the side closest to the moon and on the opposite side of the Earth. These two bulges create two high tides in a 24-hour period. The areas between these two bulges experience lower water levels, which create the two low tides.
The occurrence of two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours is due to the gravitational pull between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun.
First, let's focus on the Moon's gravitational influence. The Moon exerts a gravitational force on the Earth, causing a bulge of water on the side of the Earth that faces the Moon. This bulge creates what is known as the tidal bulge or the high tide. As the Earth rotates on its axis, different parts of the Earth experience this tidal bulge, resulting in two high tides each day.
Now, you might wonder why there are two low tides as well. As the Earth rotates, there are also areas that experience a decrease in the gravitational force from the Moon. These areas experience a slight decrease in the pull, allowing water to recede and creating what is known as the low tide.
Additionally, the Sun's gravitational influence on Earth also contributes to the tides. While the Moon's gravitational force is stronger compared to that of the Sun, the combined effects of the Moon and Sun can lead to slightly higher or lower tides on Earth. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth align (during full moon or new moon), we experience spring tides, which are usually higher and lower than average tides. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth form a right angle (during first quarter or third quarter moon), we experience neap tides, which are usually lower than average high tides and higher than average low tides.
So, the combination of the Moon's and the Sun's gravitational forces, along with the rotation of the Earth, leads to the occurrence of two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours.