🌊 HOW TIDES ARE FORMED Definition: Tides are the regular rise and fall of sea levels caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, along with the rotation of the Earth. CAUSES OF TIDES 1. Gravitational Pull of the Moon The Moon’s gravity pulls on the Earth’s oceans, causing water to bulge out on the side of Earth facing the Moon. At the same time, on the opposite side of the Earth, another bulge forms due to the inertia (outward force) of the water. 2. Gravitational Pull of t