How the tides REALLY work

Join marine physicist Dr. Patrick Rynne as he explores the science behind the tides, what creates earth's tidal bulges, and why the tides are bigger in some places than others.

[gregslakov]

This is a wonderful piece of work. It makes a relatively complex thing easier to understand, without dumbing it down. Excellent eductation going on here.

[Lil.Mrs.C]

I'm 67 and no one has ever been able to satisfactorily explain tides to me...until now!!! THANKYOU!

[bmodoryx]

The music is very distracting and loud on headphones. Only saying this because otherwise this is a fantastic explanation! The animations make it so intuitive, appreciate all the work and I hope you make more. Thank you!

[kankama]

Science teacher and long term sailor here saying Thank you. What a great explanation. It cleared up a few points I couldn't quite get. Excellent education.

[eflaaten]

Music is a bit loud and distracting, but great and informative video!

[mickwilson]

Just for future reference: the Bay of Fundy, with its funky resonance, has a counterexample. The Gulf of Thailand experiences one teeny tide per day. Very weird if you're planning your diving or navigation.

[garysheppard]

This is the first time I've actually understood the tidal mechanism. 
The bit about the water being "left behind" was key.
Well explained!

[trueriver]

Fun fact: while mass is measured in kg in scientific units, weight is a force and is measured in newtons, named after that guy who watch an apple fall. There are just under ten newtons in the force exerted on a one kg mass (the exact number is equal too the acceleration of gravity).

That means that an apple typically weighs around one newton. Nice!

[Nossucram]

5:16 decompose the vectors from the upper and lower planet. You get arrows pointing perpendicular to the poles of the planet. This pushes water out to the sides. Why wasnt this included here? Also, the COG from the moon/earth system is on the moons side of the earth, making the ‘’polar force push’’ greater on one side.

[MileDesertRat]

The very best explanation that I have seen. I understand the science and I watch certain vids to discover who does not, or cannot explain the science. You clearly know, and you can explain.

[pemoreland]

While a good explanation of the "tidal forces" between objects, they are not strong enough to cause ocean tides. You have to account for centrifugal forces on Moon and Earth orbiting their center of mass. See Richard Feynman, Lectures on Physics, section 7-4.

[TALLPaulX]

Waterlust crushed it! One of the best videos Ixve ever seen, in any subject. Not too long, not too short. Very well done. Take a victory lap!

[Hugues.L]

I thought the opposite side bulge was created because the moon and earth system rotate around a point that is located between the earth and moon, creating the 2 bulges. Isn't this true also to some extent?

[jacksonmacd]

That's the first time I've seen the "four little planets" explanation, or the ellipse-forming simulation. Very cool, very clear, and much more satisfying than the "traditional" explanations. Well done!

[blerkkk]

Nailed it — best explanation of ocean tides I have ever heard.

[Siblo]

A a yacht Captain who has studied tides for decades, this is the best simple explanation particularly covering geographical anomalies. I will be sure to show this to many who ask about tides in my industry. Thanks.

[sailorgeer]

Excellent presentation! As a coastal engineer I’m familiar with tidal constituents and where they come from, but this is an unusually lucid explanation of this complex phenomenon which, as you said, many textbooks still get wrong. Next video, maybe you can tackle why referring to tsunamis as “tidal waves” is just wrong!

[Drexgreen-x]

Seems background music is getting ubiquitous on YouTube content. It's so distracting, can't finish the videos.

[mikev]

Lovely graphics, but no mention of centrifugal effects on tides

[Gottenhimfella]

at 2:53 the statement "bigger objects create stronger gravitational forces than smaller ones" should have been worded "more massive massive ones".