Scribd
Upload
3K views2 pages

Tides Worksheet

The document discusses tides and how they are caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun. It explains that tides are rises and falls of water levels, with high tide occurring when water reaches its highest point and low tide at the lowest point. Spring tides occur during full and new moons when gravitational forces are strongest, while neap tides happen at quarter moons when gravitational forces are at right angles. The document contains diagrams to label showing tidal bulges during spring and neap tides and questions about the causes and phases of tides.

Uploaded by

arnavtheninja
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3K views2 pages

Tides Worksheet

The document discusses tides and how they are caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun. It explains that tides are rises and falls of water levels, with high tide occurring when water reaches its highest point and low tide at the lowest point. Spring tides occur during full and new moons when gravitational forces are strongest, while neap tides happen at quarter moons when gravitational forces are at right angles. The document contains diagrams to label showing tidal bulges during spring and neap tides and questions about the causes and phases of tides.

Uploaded by

arnavtheninja
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Arnav Gupta

Name: __________________________________ Block: __________ 17/10/23


Date: ______________

Gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun on the Earth cause tides. Tides are periodic rises and
fall of large bodies of water. As the tide flows in, water level rises and rises. When the water reaches
its highest level, it is considered high tide. After the point of high tide, the waters ebb (go out slowly)
away. When the water reaches it lowest point, it is considered low tide. The water level difference
between high and low tides varies from a few centimeters to 13 meters depending on the location.
The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the oceans to bulge out in the direction of the
moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since the Earth is also being pulled toward the
moon. Isaac Newton was the first person to explain the tides scientifically.
Spring tides are especially strong tides. They occur when the Earth, the Sun and the Moon are
in a straight line. Spring tides occur during the full and the new moon. Neap tides are especially weak
tides. They occur when the gravitation forces of the Moon and Sun are at right angles to each other.
Neap tides occur during quarter moons.

What To Do:
1. In the diagrams to the right label the Earth
and the Moon
A
The ring around the Earth shows the tidal
bulge.
2. In diagram A color the bulge green.
3. In diagram B color the bulge blue.
4. Label the correct diagram with Spring Tides
and Neap Tides.

Questions:
1.Why does diagram A show the largest tidal bulge?
Because the moon is in full moon and new moon phase
_________________________
2.Why does diagram B show the smallest tidal bulge?
B
The moon is in its quarter phases
________________________
3.What phases of the moon are shown in diagram A?
New and Full
__________________________
4.What phases of the moon are shown in diagram B?
1st Quarter and 3rd quarter
__________________________
5.What causes the ocean’s tides? _______________
The moon
Graphing Tidal Readings

Graph the following Tidal Readings from Galveston Bay, Texas. Don’t forget to give your graph
and title and to label your X and Y axes.

Day High Tide Reading


1 3.0
2 1.5
3 1.9
4 4.0
5 2.5
6 1.5
7 2.0
8 3.5

Questions:

1. Which day was probably a full moon? _____________


Text

2. Why do you think so? __________________________


Text

3. Which day was probably the 1st quarter? ___________

4. Why do you think so? _________________________

Conclusion:

(WORD BANK - Neap, gravitational, greatest, moon, high, Spring, low, Sun)
Ocean tides are caused by the ______________ Moon and the _______.
gravitational pull of the _______ Sun The moon
has the __________
greatest effect on the tides. When the Sun, moon and earth are in a straight line, we
have __________
spring tides. When the Sun, moon and earth are at right angles we have _________
Text
tides. Spring tides are especially _________
Text tides while neap tides are especially _________
Text
tides.

You might also like