The Moon does not “lift” the water — it stretches the entire ocean through differential gravity. The water on the near side is pulled more strongly than Earth’s center, and Earth’s center is pulled more strongly than the far-side water. This creates two bulges: one toward the Moon, one opposite. The Sun’s tide is 46% as strong as the Moon’s — when they align, spring tides surge; when at quadrature, neap tides wane.
Water height at marker—
Moon phase—
Tidal range—
Gradient diff. Δg/g—
SPRING TIDE
Sun and Moon gravitational gradients add constructively, producing the largest tidal range.
Water envelope
Earth
Moon
Sun direction
Coastal marker
Space = pause · R = reset · S = speed F = vectors · N = spring/neap