Tides & Phases

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

A spring tide occurs when the moon, sun, and Earth are in a straight line, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide occurs when the moon is at a right angle to the Earth and sun, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides.

Front

What causes tides?

Back

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

Front

What is the first quarter moon phase?

Back

The first quarter moon phase occurs when half of the moon is illuminated and is one of the eight primary moon phases.

Front

What is a waning crescent moon?

Back

A waning crescent moon is the phase where less than half of the moon is illuminated, leading up to the new moon.

Front

What is the difference between spring and neap tides?

Back

Spring tides occur when the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned, while neap tides occur when the moon is at a right angle to the sun.

Front

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Back

A waxing gibbous moon is the phase where more than half of the moon is illuminated and is increasing towards a full moon.

Front

What is the third quarter moon phase?

Back

The third quarter moon phase occurs when half of the moon is illuminated, opposite the first quarter phase.

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 lunar cycle?

Back

The lunar cycle is the sequence of phases the moon goes through in about 29.5 days, including new moon, waxing, full moon, and waning.