Tides

Front

What are tides?

Back

Tides are the 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 gravitational pull of the moon is strongest on a particular side of the Earth.

Front

What causes low tides?

Back

Low tides occur when the gravitational pull of the moon is weaker on a particular side of the Earth.

Front

How many high tides occur in a day?

Back

There are typically 2 high tides in a day.

Front

How many low tides occur in a day?

Back

There are typically 2 low tides in a day.

Front

What is the role of the sun in tides?

Back

The sun also exerts a gravitational pull on Earth, but its effect on tides is less than that of the moon due to its greater distance.

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

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

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide is a tide with the least difference between high and low water, occurring during the first and third quarters of the moon.

Front

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

Back

The phases of the moon affect the size of the tides; spring tides occur during full and new moons, while neap tides occur during quarter moons.

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.