Oceanography

3.1.2.Definition and terms

Tides are bulges of water produced by the gravitational attraction of the Sun and Moon on the ocean and by the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the Earth –Sun and Earth-Moon systems. Gravity is the force of attraction between two bodies. It is proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The greater the mass and smaller the distance, the stronger the gravitational attraction.

GαM₁M₂/d²

Where G is gravity M₁ and M₂ represent the mass of body 1 and body 2 and d is distance between the center of the two masses.