Tides

Front

What are tides?

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Front

How many times do high tides and low tides occur each day?

Back

High tides and low tides each happen 2 times per day.

Front

What are spring tides?

Back

Spring tides are tides with the largest tidal ranges that occur when the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What are neap tides?

Back

Neap tides are tides with the smallest tidal ranges that occur when the sun and moon are at a 90-degree angle relative to the Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What causes high tides?

Back

High tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the Earth's oceans.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What is the relationship between the moon's phases and tides?

Back

The moon's phases affect high tides and low tides, with the highest tides occurring during the full and new moons.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is the gravitational effect during neap tides?

Back

During neap tides, the gravitational effects of the sun and moon do not add together.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What angle do the sun, moon, and Earth form during neap tides?

Back

During a neap tide, the sun, moon, and Earth are at a 90-degree angle.

Front

What is the tidal range?

Back

The tidal range is the difference in height between high tide and low tide.

Front

How do spring tides differ from neap tides?

Back

Spring tides have a larger tidal range than neap tides due to the alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun.