Unit 7: Investigating Tides and Seasons

Front

Autumnal Equinox

Back

Marks the first day of Autumn; the Sun is directly above the equator, resulting in equal amounts of day and night; on about September 20th each year in the Northern hemisphere.

Front

Daily Tide

Back

Water on the side of the Earth closest to the Moon is most strongly affected by the Moon’s gravitational pull.

Front

Full Moon

Back

A phase of the lunar cycle that occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, causing the side of the Moon facing Earth to appear fully illuminated.

Front

High Tide

Back

The point in the tidal cycle where the water level is at its highest, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon at its strongest.

Front

Lunar Cycle

Back

A 29.5 day period that it takes for the moon to complete an eight phase cycle as it revolves around Earth.

Front

Neap Tide

Back

A particularly low tide that occurs at the first and third (last) quarter Moon phases; the Sun is at a right angle to the Moon.

Front

New Moon

Back

A phase of the lunar cycle that occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, causing the illuminated side of the Moon to face away from Earth.

Front

Revolution

Back

The motion of an object around another object in orbit.

Front

Rotation

Back

The circular motion of an object around a central line, or axis of rotation.

Front

Season

Back

Caused by the Earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits the Sun; one of four: winter, spring, summer, fall.