 The gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon is strongest on the side of the Earth that happens to be facing the moon, simply because it is closer.
{"Image DocumentName": "What causes the tides?", "Image ImageDescription": "The gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon is strongest on the side of the Earth that happens to be facing the moon, simply because it is closer. This attraction causes the water on this near side of Earth to be pulled toward the moon. As gravitational force acts to draw the water closer to the moon, inertial force attempts to keep the water in place. But the gravitational force exceeds it and the water is pulled toward the moon, causing a bulge of water on the near side toward the moon.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}