Episode guide
Tides: How the Moon Moves the Sea
Twice a day, the ocean breathes in and out, pulled by a moon it has never touched. This episode stands at the water's edge and watches the slow pull.
The science, gently
- The moon's gravity gently stretches the ocean, making the bulges of water we call tides.
- Most shores see about two high tides and two low tides each day.
- Tide pools are little worlds that practice patience between visits from the sea.
Wonder together
- What would you keep in your tide pool?
- Where does the water go at low tide?
- What else in your life comes and goes as reliably as tides?
Tonight's calm-down
Breathe with the ocean's rhythm: high tide as you fill, low tide as you empty. The moon will keep the big water moving all night so that you do not have to move at all.