• Question: How dose the moon control the waves?

    Asked by kitkat to Anna, Hayley, Iain, Rebecca on 19 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Anna Kutner

      Anna Kutner answered on 19 Jun 2015:

      There are two things at work here: Moon’s and Earth’s gravitational forces almost like a tug-and war. The gravitational pull of the Earth is stronger than the gravitational pull of the Moon that’s why the water doesn’t fly to the space. However, the force is strong enough to cause oceans to bulge in the direction of the Moon. Because Earth and Moon are in constant motion that pull is not consistent and the ‘bulge’ moves across the ocean causing tidal waves. Note that there are also other types of waves which are cause by wind only.

    • Photo: Iain Bethune

      Iain Bethune answered on 19 Jun 2015:

      Anna is right, the moon does cause the tide to rise and fall because of its gravitational pull. However, tidal waves – or what we would call tsunamis – are caused by undersea earthquakes or landslides.

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