Now visualize the tidal bulge moving across the Atlantic Ocean. It starts on the European/African side, and moves towards us, North and Central America (remember the bulge is not actually moving, but the Earth is moving beneath the bulge).
The Bulge hits the mid-Atlantic Ridge. It slows down, passes over the ridge into deeper water, and speeds up again. Now it hits the continental rise and shelf of North America, and it slows down again.
It reaches the eastern shores of North America and bam! It now has nowhere to go! Does it march up onto the continent and come to Nebraska?
No, it bounces back (ricochets) into the Atlantic Ocean.
It's trying to move back to the other side (sort of like a seiche), but what happens? The Coriolis Effect!!! It deflects to the right, scooting along the southern edge of the North Atlantic Ocean. It reaches Europe. Another ricochet, but agai
