How does the Moon control Earth's tides? | Stargazing | ABC Science

What would happen to ocean tides if Earth did not have a moon? 

• Tides would be a little smaller because the gravitational pull would be less without the moon.

• Tides would be larger because the gravitational pull would not keep the water from moving.

• Tides would stay the same that they are now because the moon does not affect tides.

• There would be no tides because without the gravitational pull of the moon on Earth's water, the water would stay uniform.

Which of these has the greatest influence on our tides?

• The sun because it has the largest mass and therefore the most gravity. So, it pulls the ocean water the most.

• The moon because even though it has a much smaller mass, it is so much closer to the Earth, making its pull on the ocean stronger than the sun.

• The earth because it is the only body in the sun-moon-earth system that contains water.

Where is the high tide located?

• On the part of the Earth that is closest to the moon

• On the part of the Earth that is furthest from the moon.

Where do we get our biggest changes in tides?

• At the 1st Quarter and 3rd Quarter moon.

• At the new and full moon.

• At the waning crescent and waxing gibbous moon.

What is it called when the tides are bigger than usual because of the sun and moon pulling the water in opposite directions?

• Spring Tides

• Neap Tides

• Mega Tides

Spring tides (the greatest tides) occur at which two moon phases?

• New Moon and Full Moon

• 1st Quarter and 3rd Quarter

• Waxing Crescent and Waning Crescent

• Waxing Gibbous and Waning Gibbous

After watching the video, what are two new things that you learned about tides that you did not know before?