Tides Flashcards
What is a tide?
Waves that move through oceans due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon
How does the strength of tide vary?
The ocean bulges towards the strongest gravitational pull so tide is strongest (highest) when the sun and moon are aligned.
They are weakest (lowest) when the sun and moon are perpendicular to earth.
What is a spring tide?
The strongest tide, caused when the sun and moon are aligned with earth so their combined gravitational pull causes high tides.
What is a neap tide?
The weakest tide, happens when the sun and moon are perpendicular to earth.
What is the tidal range?
Difference in height between the tides.
What is wave refraction?
When waves lose energy around an uneven coastline.
Most energy is focused on the headlands and less energy around the bays causes landforms of deposition such as beaches.
