Tides and Waves Flashcards
the continual rise and fall of water in seas and oceans
tides
The lowest point of the water
low tide
The highest point of the water
high tide
What causes tides?
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon
and the sun on Earth and its water
Does the moon or sun have a stronger gravitational pull?
moon
What causes high tide?
The moon’s gravity pulls the water on the side
of Earth facing it
High tides occur on the sides of the Earth closest to and farthest away from the ________________.
moon
How many high tides and low tides are there in one day?
two
What are special tides with low tides that aren’t as low and high tides that aren’t as high as normal.
Neap tides
What is the name of the special tides that have higher high tides and lower low tides than normal
Spring tides
Which tides result in areas not in line with the moon because water is pulled away from these areas.
low tides
Which tides occur when the moon and sun
are at right angles to each other?
neap tides
How often do neap tides occur?
about twice a month
Which tides result when the moon and sun line up during the full moon and new moon?
spring tides
the highest point of a wave
crest
lowest point of a wave
trough
what are caused by the energy of the wind pushing on the surface of the water?
waves
the distance between the wave crest and trough
wave height
the distance between the crest of one wave and the crest of the next wave
wavelength
Do water molecules move much in a wave?
No, they move in small circles as energy passes through them
Do objects floating on top of the water get pushed by the waves?
No, they bob up and down
when the wave topples over and breaks against the shore; it is then called a ___________.
breaker
when the wave collapses into foaming sheets of water, we call it___________
swash
the electric energy generated by the difference between the water level
of the ocean’s high and low tides.
tidal energy
giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea.
tsunamis
