Name: Date: Class 1 2 3 6 7

Ocean Tides

STEMScopes

The gritty sand oozes between your toesas you stroll along the beach. The gentle lapping of the waves lulls you into a peaceful state. The ocean water appears to stretch its cool fingers farther up onto the shore than it did earlier in the day. Is it your imagination, or is the water level rising?

Well, you may feel better knowing that it is not your mind playing tricks on you. Throughout each day, the ocean water rises and falls at different times. This movement of water is known as a tide. A tide is a change in water level at the shoreline; it is being caused by the pull of gravity between Earth and the Moon and Earth and the Sun. During each 24-hour period, the beach will experience two high tides and two low tides in most places around the world. Periodically, the beach will also experience a spring tide and a neap tide.

How does the gravity between the Moon and Earth cause a tide? Each day, the beach can expect a high tide, a low tide, another high tide, and then another low tide. Between each of these tides is approximately six hours. This is important to know because each quarter turn of Earth takes six hours. Earth will make four quarter turns in a 24-hour period. With each turn, Earth and the Moon will be in different positions. These positions determine if it is a high or low tide. These tides are a direct effect of the Moon's gravity tugging on the water on Earth.

The Moon's gravity has a powerful effect on Earth's waters. In fact, it is far more powerful than the Sun's effect. Why, you ask? It is because the Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun. The Moon pulls the water that is on the side of Earth facing the Moon toward itself in a big bulge. At the exact same time, on the side of Earth that is facing away from the Moon, another bulge is forming. These two places will experience high tides. The opposite places on Earth, which are not facing toward or away from the Moon, will experience low tides. As Earth keeps making quarter turns, the tides change from high to low and low to high.

How does the Sun affect the ocean tides? As mentioned before, the Sun has less of an effect on the tides. However, the gravitational tug of the Sun can increase a high tide by making it rise higher than normal. This is known as a spring tide. A spring tide has absolutely nothing to do with the season spring. A spring tide happens when the Moon is either in its new moon or full moon phase. The Moon, Sun, and Earth line up perfectly with one another. This allows their gravitational pull on the ocean to work together, making the high tide rise higher.

A neap tide is the opposite of a spring tide. A neap tide is a lower-than-normal high tide. At the same time, there is also a higher-than-normal low tide. This happens as the Moon enters a first and last quarter moon phase. At this time, the Sun and the Moon are in positions that form a right angle to one another. The gravitational pull of the Sun pulls water away from the bulge formed by the Moon at high tide. The water moves toward the places that are having low tides. This results in a low high tide and a high low tide.

In a 24-hour period, a beach will have two high tides and two low tides. When the Moon is new or full, it will line up with the Sun and Earth and cause a spring tide. When the Moon and the Sun form a right angle to one another, there will be a neap tide. The next time you visit a beach, pay attention to the water level on the shoreline. You might just experience a high or low tide yourself. As you do, remember that the gravitational pull of the Moon causes the ocean tides.

  1. Which statement best describes what an ocean tide is?
  2. A change in water level that makes a high tide higher
  3. A change in water level at the shoreline being caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun
  4. A change in water level at the shoreline being caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun
  5. A change in water level that makes a low tide lower
  6. What effect does the Sun have on the ocean tides?
  7. The Sun does not have an effect on the ocean tides because it is too far away.
  8. The Sun warms the water, which causes it to rise.
  9. The gravitational pull of the Sun causes spring and neap tides.
  10. The gravitational pull of the Sun's gravity is more powerful than the Moon's.
  11. During a spring tide, the Moon is either in its new moon or full moon phase. What effect does this have on an ocean tide?
  12. The Moon, Sun, and Earth line up perfectly with one another, allowing their gravitational pulls to work together to make the high tide rise higher.
  13. The Moon and Sun are positioned at a right angle to one another, causing a lower-than-normal high tide.
  14. The Sun warms the water, causing it to rise. In most places, the beach will experience two high tides and two low tides.
  15. A spring tide only happens during the springtime.
  16. How does the gravity between the Moon and Earth cause the tides to rise and fall?
  17. The position of the Sun interferes with the Moon's gravity.
  18. During each quarter turn that Earth makes, the Moon and Earth line up in different positions, allowing for the high and low tides.
  19. Earth makes four quarter turns each day, causing spring and neap tides.
  20. The gravity of the Moon is stronger at night than during the day.
  21. What is the main point of the third paragraph?
  22. Solar flares affect the tides.
  23. Tides are not affected by the Moon's orbit.
  24. The neap tide is the opposite of the spring tide.
  25. Gravity between the Moon and Earth causes different tide levels.
  26. LABEL the earth, moon, sun AND the type of tide in each picture (spring or neap)