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Tides are the periodic rise and fall of water levels in oceans and other large bodies of water. They occur due to the combined effects of gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, as well as the Earth's rotation around its axis.

Gravitational forces are the primary factor responsible for the formation of tides. The Moon's gravity attracts the water in Earth's oceans, creating a bulge on the side facing the Moon. Simultaneously, the gravitational force of the Sun also affects Earth's oceans, although its influence is about half as strong as the Moon's.

Due to the gravitational force of the Moon, there is a bulge on the side facing the Moon and another on the opposite side. The Earth's rotation causes these bulges to move around the Earth, creating high and low tides. When the bulge is aligned with a location, a high tide occurs, and when it is perpendicular, a low tide occurs.

The Earth rotates on its axis, approximately once every 24 hours. As a result, a specific location on Earth experiences high tides and low tides as it moves through the tidal bulges created by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun.

Tidal forces of the Sun and Moon interact with each other, leading to variations in the range of tides. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned (during a Full Moon or New Moon), the gravitational forces are combined, resulting in the highest high tides and lowest low tides, called Spring Tides. In contrast, when the Moon is in its first or third quarter, and the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon are perpendicular to each other, the tidal range is at its lowest, causing Neap Tides. In conclusion, tides are caused by the combined gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun and the Earth's rotation. The interaction between these forces leads to the cyclical phenomenon of tides that affect ocean water levels.