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? Tides are very long-period waves that move
through the oceans in response to the forces exerted by the moon and sun.
. What is a high tide? What is a low tide? A high tide occurs when the highest part,
or crest of the wave reaches a particular location and a low tide corresponds to
the lowest part of the wave.
!. What is tidal range? The diference in height between the high tide and the low
tide.
What Causes Tides?
". #ides are caused by the gra$itational attraction of what two celestial bodies?
The sun and moon.
%. What does &ewton's law of uni$ersal gra$itational state? It states that the
gravitational attraction between two bodies is directly proportional to their
masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the
bodies.
(. Which celestial body has a greater effect on tidal forces on )arth? The moon.
Gravity, Inertia, and the Two Bulges
*. +ow does the moon create a bulge? hen the gravitational force exceeds it and
the water is pulled toward the moon.
1,. What causes a bulge to be created on the opposite side of the )arth or the -far
side. from the moon? Inertia here exceeds the gravitational force, and the water
tries to !eep going in a straight line, moving away from the "arth.
Changing ngles and Changing Tides
11. /escribe how changes in the relati$e positions of the moon and sun change in
relation to the )arth? #hey change in relation to the earth's equator.
1. At what point is the sun at its minimum declination and its maximum declination?
/uring the equinoxes the sun is at its minimum declination and during the solstices the sun is at its
maximum declination.
!requency o" Tides # The $unar %ay
10. 1ompare and contrast a solar and lunar day. +ow long is a lunar day? A solar day
is the #$ hour time it ta!es the earth to do one rotation from a point on the sun
bac! to that point and a lunar day is when moon revolves around the "arth in the
same direction that the "arth rotates around its axis. It is #$ hours and %& min.
1". Why do most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides?
'ecause the "arth rotates through two tidal (bulges) every lunar day
1%. +ow long does it take for high tide to occur? +ow long is the time between low
and high tide? *igh tides occur +# hours and #% minutes apart. It ta!es six hours
and 12.5 minutes for the water at the shore to go from high to low or the other
way around.
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?
,pring tides are caused when the sun and moon are in alignment. -eap Tides are
caused when the sun and moon are at right angles of each other. They happen
twice a month.
1*. +ow are tide2generating forces affected when the moon is closest to the )arth 3or
perigee4? when the moon is farthest away from the )arth 3or apogee4? +ow does this
affect the tides that are produced.
-Tide-generating forces are higher than usual, producing above-average ranges in
the tides.
- hen the moon is farthest from the "arth.
-tidal ranges are less than average.
,. +ow are tide2generating forces affected when the )arth is closest to the sun 3or
perihelion4? when the )arth is farthest from the sun 3or aphelion4? +ow does this
affect the tides that are produced?
-tidal ranges are enhanced.
- tidal ranges are produced.
What ""ects Tides in ddition to the 'un and (oon?
1. +ow are the magnitudes of tides affected by shorelines? By mid2ocean islands?
-it can be afected by the shape of shorelines.
-small tides.
. +ow does a funnel2shaped bay compare to a narrow inlet and shallow water?
2 it can magnify the intensity of tides.
!. What is the affect of strong tidal ri$ers on tides in estuaries?
- powerful seasonal river /ows in the spring can severely alter or mas! the
incoming tide.
5. What other abiotic factors affect tides? 1ompare and contrast wind and weather
patterns that affect tides.
- 0ocal wind and weather patterns.