[quanta07]

Originally Posted by Jim Colyer If the moon's gravity is strong enough to cause the tides, why does it not rip away earth's lighter atmosphere?

Welcome Jim,
Both the earth and moon have a spherical acceleration fields, 'gravity'.
If we examine a line from earth center to moon center, along this line the moons gravity has maximum effect.
Where this line intersects earth surface,
there is a reduction in intensity of acceleration at this point,
Earth 'gravity' is weakened.
This results in a 'rising' of sea level and a 'bulging' of upper atmosphere surface as the moon is directly overhead.
The presence of the moon reduces the effects of earth 'gravity', while passing overhead, creating sea swells that follow the moons orbital position, tides.
This effect is constant and slow, with no intense changes, no ripping just a bulge.
Happy Thoughts....Q7