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Tides In Pictures and In Words

<< 4/12 < > At the surface of the earth, the earth’s force of gravitational attraction acts in a direction inward toward its center of mass, and thus holds the ocean water confined to this surface. However, the gravitational forces of the moon and sun also act externally upon the earth’s ocean waters. These external forces are exerted as tide-producing, or so-called “tractive” forces. Their effects are superimposed upon the earth’s gravitational force and act to draw the ocean waters to positions on the earth’s surface directly beneath these respective celestial bodies (i.e., towards the “sublunar” and “subsolar” points).

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