gen-explain-tidal-forces-as-you-would-to-a-capable-student-in-3-3774

Explain tidal forces as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

Tidal forces arise because gravity gets weaker with distance, so the near side of an object experiences stronger gravitational pull than the far side. This difference in gravitational strength across the object creates a stretching effect along the line connecting the two bodies, while simultaneously compressing the object perpendicular to that line. For example, the Moon pulls more strongly on the ocean facing it than on Earth's center, and even less on the ocean on the far side—this creates two tidal bulges (one near, one far) that we experience as high tides. These forces can be gentle like ocean tides, or extreme enough to tear objects apart if they cross the "Roche limit" too close to a massive body.