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Whose work first explained the tides using the Moon’s gravity?
Quick Answer
Isaac Newton explained tides as a result of the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun. His explanation appeared in the 1687 Principia.
The Full Story
Isaac Newton gave the first correct physical explanation of tides in his 1687 work, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica. He showed that the Moon’s gravity raises tidal bulges in Earth’s oceans, with the Sun also contributing. The result is the familiar rise and fall of sea level, although local geography strongly affects the exact timing and height of tides. Newton’s theory laid the groundwork for later tidal prediction and ocean physics.
Key Facts
1.Newton’s Principia was published in 1687
2.The Moon is the main cause of tides
3.The Sun also contributes to tides
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why the Moon makes the sea move twice a day"
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