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.

Front

How many high tides and low tides occur in a day?

Back

There are typically 2 high tides and 2 low tides each day.

Front

What causes high tides?

Back

High tides are primarily caused by the moon's gravitational pull on the Earth.

Front

What are spring tides?

Back

Spring tides are the highest tides that occur when the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned, resulting in greater gravitational forces.

Front

What are neap tides?

Back

Neap tides are the lowest tides that occur when the sun and moon are at right angles relative to the Earth, causing their gravitational effects to partially cancel each other out.

Front

What is the role of the sun in tides?

Back

The sun's gravitational pull also affects tides, but its influence is less than that of the moon due to its greater distance from the Earth.

Front

What is the gravitational pull?

Back

Gravitational pull is the force that attracts two bodies towards each other, such as the Earth and the moon.

Front

What happens during a spring tide?

Back

During a spring tide, the tidal range is at its maximum due to the alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun.

Front

What happens during a neap tide?

Back

During a neap tide, the tidal range is at its minimum due to the sun and moon being at right angles to each other.

Front

How does the moon's phase affect tides?

Back

The moon's phase affects the timing and height of tides, with new and full moons producing higher high tides and lower low tides.