Tides
Study
Practice
Title: Tides
Objective: I can construct a model for the
positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during
spring and neap tides.
Essential Question: What is the difference
between a spring tide and a neap tide?
http://tinyurl.com/zvuhyz8
Tides are the daily rise and fall of sea levels. High tides
occur when sea levels rise, and low tides occur when
sea levels fall.
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the
moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. the moon's
gravity has a greater effect on Earth's tides
because the distance between Earth and the
moon is much less than the distance between
Earth and the sun.
When the moon's gravity pulls on Earth it
causes Earth's oceans to bulge out in both
directions. The force of the moon's gravity
on Earth is strongest at point A and
weakest at point C.
A
C
As the moon pulls on the water, it creates a bulge on
the side closest to the moon because that's where
the gravitational pull is the greatest (A).
So what about the bulge at point C? That bulge is
caused by Earth being pulled away from the water
on that side. The force of the moon's gravity is
stronger at point A than point C.
A
C
The position of the sun, moon, and
Earth will create two different types of
tides; spring tide (high tide), and neap
tide (low tide).
Spring tides have nothing to do with the spring
season. Spring tides occur when the sun, moon,
and Earth are in a line, as happens during the
moon's new and full phases. Spring tides are
strong tides, meaning that both high and low tides
are higher than usual. Spring tides are also referred
to as high tides.
Neap tides occur when the moon is at a right
angle to the sun relative to Earth, as happens
during the moon's first and third quarter phases.
Neap tides are weak tides, meaning that both
the high and low tides are lower than usual.
Neap tides are also referred to as low tides.
In your journals compare and
contrast spring tides and neap
tides. When you are complete,
construct your two sentence
summary.
Answer the following questions
on a separate sheet of paper.
You will need to justify your
answers to receive full credit!
In what positions will a tidal budge appear?
1
2
4
3
1 and 3
2 and 4
1 and 4
2 and 3
Correct!!
Try again.
In what positions will a tidal budge appear?
1
2
4
3
1 and 3
2 and 4
1 and 4
2 and 3
Correct!!
Try again.
In what positions will a tidal budge appear?
1
2
4
3
1 and 3
2 and 4
1 and 4
2 and 3
Correct!!
Try again.
In what positions will a tidal budge appear?
1
2
4
3
1 and 3
2 and 4
1 and 4
2 and 3
Correct!!
Try again.
What type of tide is occurring?
Sun
1
2
4
3
Spring Tide
Neap Tide
Correct!!
Try again.
What type of tide is occurring?
Sun
1
2
4
3
Spring Tide
Neap Tide
Correct!!
Try again.