Tides

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

A spring tide occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon are in a line, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Front

What causes tides?

Back

Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the Earth's oceans.

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide occurs when the sun and moon are at right angles relative to the Earth, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides.

Front

How often do spring and neap tides occur?

Back

Spring and neap tides occur approximately every two weeks, with spring tides occurring during the full and new moons, and neap tides occurring during the first and third quarter moons.

Front

What is the difference between spring and neap tides?

Back

Spring tides occur when the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned, while neap tides occur when the moon is at a right angle to the sun relative to the Earth.

Front

What is the role of gravity in tides?

Back

Gravity is the force that pulls the water in the oceans towards the moon and the sun, creating tidal bulges.

Front

What happens to the tides when the moon is full?

Back

When the moon is full, spring tides occur, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides.

Front

What happens to the tides during a new moon?

Back

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

Front

What is a tidal bulge?

Back

A tidal bulge is an area where the ocean water is higher than the average sea level due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

Front

How does the position of the sun affect tides?

Back

The position of the sun affects tides by contributing to the gravitational pull on the Earth's oceans, influencing the height of tides.