Tides Flashcards
What are tides?
Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun.
What causes spring tides?
Spring tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, resulting in the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.
True or False: Neap tides occur when the moon is in its first or third quarter.
True
What are tidal bulges?
Tidal bulges are the raised areas of sea level that occur on the side of the Earth facing the moon and the side opposite the moon.
Fill in the blank: The gravitational pull of the _____ primarily causes tides.
moon
How often do tides typically occur in a day?
Tides typically occur twice a day, with two high tides and two low tides.
What is the difference between spring tides and neap tides?
Spring tides have higher tidal ranges while neap tide have lower tidal ranges. Spring tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned while neap tides occur when they are at a 90 degree angle
Multiple Choice: Which phase of the moon produces the strongest tides? A) New Moon B) First Quarter C) Full Moon D) Third Quarter
A) New Moon and C) Full Moon
What is the effect of the sun on tides?
The sun also exerts gravitational forces on the Earth, influencing the tides, but to a lesser extent than the moon.
What is a tidal range?
The tidal range is the difference in height between the high tide and the low tide.
Fill in the blank: The _____ cycle is the cycle of the moon’s phases that influences tides.
lunar
What is meant by the term ‘tidal current’?
Tidal current refers to the horizontal movement of water associated with the rising and falling of tides.
Multiple Choice: Which type of tide has the least variation in water level? A) Spring Tide B) Neap Tide
B) Neap Tide
What is the role of the Earth’s rotation in tides?
The Earth’s rotation causes the tidal bulges to move, resulting in the cyclical pattern of high and low tides.
True or False: Tides can be predicted accurately based on the lunar cycle.
True
Fill in the blank: The gravitational pull of the _____ has a greater influence on tides than the sun.
moon
What are mixed tides?
Mixed tides are characterized by two high tides and two low tides of different heights within a lunar day.
What is the significance of the tidal calendar?
The tidal calendar helps predict the timing and height of tides based on the lunar cycle.
Multiple Choice: Which factor does NOT affect tides? A) Wind B) Moon Phase C) Earth’s Orbit D) Ocean Currents
D) Ocean Currents
True or False: Spring tides occur only in the spring season.
False
How many days does it take to get from a New to a 1st Quarter moon phase?
7 days
How many days does it take to get from a Full to a New moon phase?
14 days
