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?
he rise and fall of the sea.
!. What is a high tide? What is a low tide?
"igh tide is when the tide is at its highest and low tide is when its al its lowest.
#. What is tidal range?
he $ertical difference between the high tide and the low tide.
What Causes Tides?
%. ides are caused by the gra$itational attraction of what two celestial bodies?
he sun and the moon.
&. What does 'ewton(s law of uni$ersal gra$itational state?
he gra$itational attraction between two bodies is directly proportional to their
masses, and in$ersely proportional to the square of the distance between the
bodies.
). Which celestial body has a greater effect on tidal forces on *arth?
he moon
Gravity, Inertia, and the Two Bulges
+. "ow does the moon create a bulge?
,ra$itational force exceeds it and the water is pulled toward the moon,
causing a -bulge. of water on the near side toward the moon.
1/. What causes a bulge to be created on the opposite side of the *arth or the -far
side. from the moon?
0n the opposite side of the *arth, or the -far side,. the gra$itational attraction
of the moon is less because it is farther away. "ere, inertia exceeds the
gra$itational force, and the water tries to keep going in a straight line, mo$ing
away from the *arth, also forming a bulge
Changing ngles and Changing Tides
11. 1escribe how changes in the relati$e positions of the moon and sun change in
relation to the *arth?
1!. At what point is the sun at its minimum declination and its maximum declination?
!requency o" Tides # The $unar %ay
12. 3ompare and contrast a solar and lunar day. "ow long is a lunar day?
1%. Why do most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides?
1&. "ow long does it take for high tide to occur? "ow long is the time between low
and high tide?
Tidal &ariations # The In"luence o" Position and %istance
1). What causes spring tides? What causes neap tides? "ow many spring and neap
tides occur in a lunar month?
1+. "ow are tide4generating forces affected when the moon is closest to the *arth 5or
perigee6? when the moon is farthest away from the *arth 5or apogee6? "ow does this
affect the tides that are produced?
!/. "ow are tide4generating forces affected when the *arth is closest to the sun 5or
perihelion6? when the *arth is farthest from the sun 5or aphelion6? "ow does this
affect the tides that are produced?
What ""ects Tides in ddition to the 'un and (oon?
!1. "ow are the magnitudes of tides affected by shorelines? By mid4ocean islands?
!!. "ow does a funnel4shaped bay compare to a narrow inlet and shallow water?
!#. What is the affect of strong tidal ri$ers on tides in estuaries?
!7. What other abiotic factors affect tides? 3ompare and contrast wind and weather
patterns that affect tides.