Tides Webquest
Part I: Background on Tides
Begin your information search by using your textbook and accessing
http://www.nos.noaa.gov/education/tides/welcome.html
As you read through the tutorial, answer the questions below that correspond to each
section of the tutorial.
What are Tides?
1. What is a basic definition of a tide? !ong periods of wa"es that respond to the
pulls of the moon and sun
#. What is a high tide? What is a low tide?
$igh tide is the highest part of the wa"e and low tide is the lowest part of the wa"e
%. What is tidal range?
&he height difference between high and low tide
What Causes Tides?
'. &ides are caused by the gra"itational attraction of what two celestial bodies?
(oon and sun
). What does *ewton+s law of uni"ersal gra"itational state?
,trength of the gra"itational pull is directly related to the mass
-. Which celestial body has a greater effect on tidal forces on .arth?
&he sun
Gravity, Inertia, and the Two Bulges
/. $ow does the moon create a bulge?
&he gra"ity force exceeds inertia creating a 0bulge1
12. What causes a bulge to be created on the opposite side of the .arth or the 0far
side1 from the moon? 3 4nertia goes against the moons gra"ity and since the inertia is
stronger than the moons pull on the far side it creates a bulge.
Changing ngles and Changing Tides
11. 5escribe how changes in the relati"e positions of the moon and sun change in
relation to the .arth? &hey angles are formed by earths equator.
1#. At what point is the sun at its minimum declination and its maximum declination?
5uring spring and fall equinoxes the sun is at minimum declination and at summer
and winter it+s at its maximum declination
!requency o" Tides # The $unar %ay
16. 7ompare and contrast a solar and lunar day. $ow long is a lunar day?
&he lunar day has an extra 62 mins. ,olar day #8 hrs. !unar #8 hrs and 62 mins
1'. Why do most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides?
Because of both of the sun and moon
1). $ow long does it take for high tide to occur? $ow long is the time between low
and high tide? 3 1# hrs and #6 mins. ' hrs and 1#.6 mins between low and high tide
Tidal &ariations # The In"luence o" Position and %istance
1-. What causes spring tides? What causes neap tides? $ow many spring and neap
tides occur in a lunar month? When sun and moon are aligned they cause spring
tides and when they are not in line they create neap tides. &wo for each tide per lunar
month
1/. $ow are tidegenerating forces affected when the moon is closest to the .arth 9or
perigee:? when the moon is farthest away from the .arth 9or apogee:? $ow does this
affect the tides that are produced? 3When the moon is closer to earth it has a greater
effect on the tides producing higher than a"erage tide gen forces. When its father
away they tide range becomes less than a"erage. &his why when the moon is closer
we ha"e stronger tides and "ice "ersa when the moon is farther away.
#2. $ow are tidegenerating forces affected when the .arth is closest to the sun 9or
perihelion:? when the .arth is farthest from the sun 9or aphelion:? $ow does this
affect the tides that are produced? 3;ust like the moon when the sun is closer our tides
are enhanced and "ice "ersa when father away.
What ""ects Tides in ddition to the 'un and (oon?
#1. $ow are the magnitudes of tides affected by shorelines? By midocean islands?
(agnitudes can make higher height in the tides by the shore and but in mid ocean
they do not get much affect.
##. $ow does a funnelshaped bay compare to a narrow inlet and shallow water?
A funnel shaped bay in greatly enhance tides while a narrow inlet and shallow water
reduce tides.
#%. What is the affect of strong tidal ri"ers on tides in estuaries?
4t could alter or mask the tide incoming estuaries tides.
#8. What other abiotic factors affect tides? 7ompare and contrast wind and weather
patterns that affect tides. 3 <ffshore winds and cloudy, rainy conditions can make
lower tides. <n the other can <nshore winds and sunny days can make high tides
higher than expected.
