Eli5, how does the moon cause a bulge in the tides on both sides of the planet?

Question

Edit to clarify: I understand the moons gravity pulls on the water on the side of the earth that’s closest to it. But there’s also a bulge on the opposite side of the earth and I don’t understand how that second bulge happens.

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

The moon is pulling the water towards itself on the side of the earth facing the moon. On the opposite side, it’s pulling less as the gravity is weaker way over on that side. Think of the earth like a stretchy ball and the side opposite the earth is stuck a little bit (representing the weaker gravity).