Tide Notes
*What causes tides? The gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the oceans to bulge out in the direction of the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon (and away from the water on the far side). Since the earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day. They are periodic rises and falls of large bodies of water.
*What causes spring tides? Spring tides are especially strong tides (they do not have anything to do with the season Spring). They occur when the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, are in a line. The gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun both contribute to the tides. Spring tides occur during the full moon and the new moon. They cause the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.
*What causes neap tides?
Neap tides are especially weak tides. They occur when the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun are perpendicular to one another (with respect to the Earth). Neap tides occur during quarter moons.
*What causes spring tides? Spring tides are especially strong tides (they do not have anything to do with the season Spring). They occur when the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, are in a line. The gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun both contribute to the tides. Spring tides occur during the full moon and the new moon. They cause the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.
*What causes neap tides?
Neap tides are especially weak tides. They occur when the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun are perpendicular to one another (with respect to the Earth). Neap tides occur during quarter moons.