Tides

Front

What are tides?

Back

Tides are the regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on Earth.

Front

What causes high tides?

Back

High tides occur when the bulge of water on the side of the Earth is closest to the moon.

Front

What are low tides?

Back

Low tides are the decrease in sea level that occurs when the water is pulled away from the shore, typically occurring between high tides.

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide is a tide with the least difference between high and low water, occurring when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other.

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

A spring tide is a tide with the greatest difference between high and low water, occurring during full and new moons.

Front

How often do tides occur?

Back

Tides typically occur twice a day, with two high tides and two low tides.

Front

Why does the moon have a greater effect on tides than the sun?

Back

The moon has a greater effect on tides because it is closer to the Earth than the sun.

Front

What is the gravitational pull?

Back

Gravitational pull is the force that attracts two bodies towards each other, such as the moon's pull on Earth's oceans.

Front

What is the alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun during a spring tide?

Back

During a spring tide, the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned in a straight line.

Front

What is the alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun during a neap tide?

Back

During a neap tide, the Earth, moon, and sun are at right angles to each other.