Tides

Front

What are tides?

Back

Tides are daily changes in ocean water levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.

Front

What causes high and low tides?

Back

High and low tides are caused by the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun on Earth's oceans.

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide occurs when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, resulting in the lowest tidal range.

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

A spring tide occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, resulting in the highest tidal range.

Front

How often do tides occur?

Back

Tides occur approximately every 6 hours, leading to two high tides and two low tides each day.

Front

Why does the moon have a greater influence on tides than the sun?

Back

The moon has a greater influence on tides because it is much closer to Earth than the sun.

Front

What is the tidal range?

Back

The tidal range is the difference in height between high tide and low tide.

Front

What is the role of the sun in tides?

Back

The sun also affects tides, but its influence is less than that of the moon due to its greater distance from Earth.

Front

What happens to tides during a full moon?

Back

During a full moon, spring tides occur, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Front

What happens to tides during a new moon?

Back

During a new moon, spring tides also occur, similar to a full moon, leading to a greater tidal range.