Tides

Front

What are tides?

Back

Tides are the regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun on Earth's oceans.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What causes high tides?

Back

High tides occur when the Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth's ocean water, creating a bulge.

Front

How often do tides occur?

Back

Tides occur twice a day due to the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What is the role of tides in ocean mixing?

Back

Tides create circulating currents that mix colder arctic water with warmer water.

Front

What is the effect of the Sun on tides?

Back

The Sun's gravitational pull also affects tides, but its effect is less than that of the Moon.

Front

What is a tidal range?

Back

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

Front

How do hydroelectric dams utilize tides?

Back

Hydroelectric dams generate electricity from the constant energy of moving tidal water.

Front

What is the difference between spring tides and neap tides?

Back

Spring tides are higher high tides and lower low tides that occur during full and new moons; neap tides are lower high tides and higher low tides that occur during the first and third quarters of the moon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is the gravitational effect of the Moon on Earth?

Back

The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, causing the water to bulge out, resulting in high tides.

Front

What is the role of the Earth's rotation in tides?

Back

The Earth's rotation causes different areas of the planet to experience high and low tides at different times.