Question

why do tides not occur in rivers, lakes, ponds and other water bodies?

Answer 1

Oceans are one big, connected volume of water. Simply put, the Moon’s gravity pulls the water volume into two giant bulges at opposite sides of Earth. The cumulative effect of all that water moving slightly towards those two bulges, creates an effect that is big enough to notice.

Why doesn’t this also work in lakes, dams and rivers? (Sometimes it does by the way, particularly where rivers meet the sea!)

1. They’re not big enough
2. They are either insufficiently connected to the seas/oceans, or too far away from them

Answer 2

Answer:

Oceans are one big, connected volume of water. Simply put, the Moon’s gravity pulls the water volume into two giant bulges at opposite sides of Earth. The cumulative effect of all that water moving slightly towards those two bulges, creates an effect that is big enough to notice.

Why doesn’t this also work in lakes, dams and rivers? (Sometimes it does by the way, particularly where rivers meet the sea!)

1. They’re not big enough

2. They are either insufficiently connected to the seas/oceans, or too far away from them

Explanation: