Seasons and Tides Flashcard

Front

What are spring tides?

Back

Spring tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides. They happen during the full moon and new moon phases.

Front

What are neap tides?

Back

Neap tides occur when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, causing the gravitational pull to partially cancel out, resulting in weaker tides.

Front

How do spring tides differ from neap tides?

Back

Spring tides are stronger and occur during full and new moons, while neap tides are weaker and occur when the sun and moon are at right angles.

Front

What causes the seasons on Earth?

Back

The tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun cause the seasons, leading to varying sunlight and temperature throughout the year.

Front

How do seasons in the Northern Hemisphere compare to those in the Southern Hemisphere?

Back

The seasons in the Northern Hemisphere are opposite to those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Front

What are equinoxes?

Back

Equinoxes are the points in the Earth's orbit where day and night are of equal length, occurring around March 21 and September 23.

Front

What are solstices?

Back

Solstices are the points in the Earth's orbit where the length of day is at its maximum (summer solstice) or minimum (winter solstice).

Front

When do spring tides occur?

Back

Spring tides occur during the full moon and new moon phases.

Front

What is the gravitational effect of the moon on tides?

Back

The moon's gravitational pull causes the water on Earth to bulge, creating high tides, while areas perpendicular to the bulge experience low tides.

Front

What is the role of the sun in tidal changes?

Back

The sun's gravitational pull also affects tides, but its effect is less than that of the moon. When the sun, moon, and Earth align, tides are more extreme.