Current State
Tide type--
Moon angle0.0°
Day0.0
Relative tide--
Physics
Ftidal ≈ 2GMmR / d³
Fr(θ) = (2GMR/d³) cos θ
Fθ(θ) = −(GMR/d³) sin θ
Tidal force ∝ M/d³ (not M/d²!)
Moon effect ≈ 2.2 × Sun effect
Moon: 384,400 km
Sun: 149,600,000 km
Sun/Moon tidal ratio: ≈ 0.46
Tidal force ∝ M/d³ (not M/d²!)
Moon effect ≈ 2.2 × Sun effect
Moon: 384,400 km
Sun: 149,600,000 km
Sun/Moon tidal ratio: ≈ 0.46
Why the Moon Wins
The Sun is 27 million times more massive than the Moon, yet its tidal force is less than half the Moon's.
Tidal force scales as M/d³ — the cube of distance matters far more than mass. The Moon is 389× closer, and 389³ ≈ 59 million, which more than compensates for the Sun's greater mass.
When Sun and Moon align (new/full moon), their tidal forces add: spring tides. When perpendicular (quarter moons): neap tides.
Annotations
Hover over features in the main view to learn more. The arrows show the tidal force field — the differential gravity that stretches Earth's oceans.