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?
!ery longperiod wa"es that mo"e through the oceans in response to the forces
exerted by the #oon and the $un.
%. What is a high tide? What is a low tide?
A high tide is when the gra"itational pull on a body of water is at its strongest point
and the water le"el is at its highest. A low tide is when that same gra"itational force is
weaker, causing the lowest water le"el.
&. What is tidal range?
'he tidal range is the difference between the high and low tides.
What Causes Tides?
(. 'ides are caused by the gra"itational attraction of what two celestial bodies?
'hey are caused by the gra"itational forces of the $un and the #oon.
). What does *ewton+s law of uni"ersal gra"itational state?
,t states that the gra"itational forces between to ob-ects is directly proportional to
their mass and in"ersely proportional to the square of the distance between the two
ob-ects.
.. Which celestial body has a greater effect on tidal forces on /arth?
'he #oon has a greater effect on the tidal forces of /arth.
Gravity, Inertia, and the Two Bulges
0. 1ow does the moon create a bulge?
'he #oon creates a bulge with its gra"itational force, it pulls the water away from
the /arth and towards the #oon.
12. What causes a bulge to be created on the opposite side of the /arth or the 3far
side4 from the moon?
,nertia causes the bulge on the far side, because it is acting against the gra"itational
pull of the #oon. 5n the side of the /arth facing the #oon gra"ity is stronger and has
a more prominent effect, whereas on the far side the inertia counteracting the
gra"itational pull o"erpowers the pull of gra"ity and causes a bulge in the opposite
direction.
Changing ngles and Changing Tides
11. 6escribe how changes in the relati"e positions of the moon and sun change in
relation to the /arth?
'he moon rotates around the /arth, so its position relati"e to the equator changes,
and this change is measured as an angle. 'he $un beha"es in the same way, its angle
to the equator changes throughout the year because the /arth re"ol"es around it.
1%. At what point is the sun at its minimum declination and its maximum declination?
'he sun is at its minimum declination during the "ernal and autumnal equinoxes
because the $un is directly in line with the equator. ,t is at its maximum declination
during the summer and winter solstice because its angle puts it further away from the
equator.
!requency o" Tides # The $unar %ay
17. 8ompare and contrast a solar and lunar day. 1ow long is a lunar day?
A lunar day is longer than a solar day because the #oon is re"ol"ing around the
/arth in the same direction that the /arth rotates. A lunar day is %9 hours and 72
minutes.
1(. Why do most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides?
'he /arth rotates through two tidal bulges e"ery day, causing two high and low tides.
1). 1ow long does it take for high tide to occur? 1ow long is the time between low
and high tide?
,t takes 1% hours and %7 minutes between e"ery high tide and it is ( hours and 1%.7
minutes between high and low tides.
Tidal &ariations # The In"luence o" Position and %istance
1.. What causes spring tides? What causes neap tides? 1ow many spring and neap
tides occur in a lunar month?
$pring tides are caused by the combined gra"itational pull of the $un and the #oon
when they are both lined up and exerting a pull on one side of the /arth. *eap tides
are caused by the $un and the #oon not being in a line, which creates a lesser
gra"itational pull on one area of the /arth and causes a smaller difference in between
high and low tides. 'wo spring tides and two neap tides occur e"ery lunar month.
10. 1ow are tidegenerating forces affected when the moon is closest to the /arth :or
perigee;? When the moon is farthest away from the /arth :or apogee;? 1ow does this
affect the tides that are produced?
'ide generating forces are stronger when the #oon is perigee, and they are weaker
when the #oon is apogee. 'his causes abo"ea"erage tidal ranges when it is perigee
and belowa"erage tidal ranges when it is apogee.
%2. 1ow are tidegenerating forces affected when the /arth is closest to the sun :or
perihelion;? When the /arth is farthest from the sun :or aphelion;? 1ow does this
affect the tides that are produced?
'he effect is the same as with the #oon, when the /arth is perihelion the tidal forces
are greater and when the /arth is aphelion the tidal forces are lesser.
What ""ects Tides in ddition to the 'un and (oon?
%1. 1ow are the magnitudes of tides affected by shorelines? By midocean islands?
'ides can be magnified on shorelines along continental margins and they can be
reduced by midocean islands.
%%. 1ow does a funnelshaped bay compare to a narrow inlet and shallow water?
<unnel shaped bays significantly increase the power and height of tides whereas
shallow water and inlets dissipate them.
%&. What is the affect of strong tidal ri"ers on tides in estuaries?
$trong ri"ers can se"erely mask or change the incoming tide because of the flow
from the ri"er.
%9. What other abiotic factors affect tides? 8ompare and contrast wind and weather
patterns that affect tides.
Winds and weather can affect tides as well. ,f winds are blowing toward the shore
then the tide might stay high because all of the water is being pushed there. ,f the
wind is blowing toward the ocean then low tides might be more prominent. Weather
can also cause depressions in the ocean which exaggerates low tides.