physical factors - tides

Question 1

what are tides?

Answer 1

tides are the periodic rise and fall of the sea surface and are produced by gravitational pull of the moon and sun

Question 2

what does the moon do?

Answer 2

the moon pulls water towards it creating a high tide, there is a compensating bulge on the opposite side of earth at the locations between the two bulges = low tide occurs

Question 3

when does high tide occur?

Answer 3

when the moon, sun and earth = are all aligned = strongest gravitational pull = 2x a month = spring tides - tidal range is the greatest

Question 4

when does low tide occur?

Answer 4

when the sun and moon are at right angles = gravitational pull is weak = neap tide - lowest tidal range

Question 5

how do tidal ranges influence the coast?

Answer 5

influences where wave action occurs, the weathering processes + impact of processes between tides

Question 6

what happens in areas where tidal range is small?

Answer 6

places where tidal range is small = a concentration of erosion processes on one particular point on the cliff –> often form wave cut notches form shore platforms

Question 7

what happens in areas where tidal range is high?

Answer 7

• water rushes in and pulls back out twice a day = scouring effect