as distance from an object decreases , the pull of gravity on that object increases & the moon is the celestial object that is closer to the earth than the sun ->  the gravity pull from the moon on earth is greater than the sun on earth  the gravity pull from the moon on earth is greater than the sun on earth & the cause of something affects that something & the gravitational pull of the sun on earth 's oceans causes the tides & the gravitational pull of the moon on earth 's oceans causes the tides -> the gravitational pull of the moon on earth affects the tides more than the gravitational pull of the sun