Explain why the Moon has a greater influence on Earth's tides than the Sun, even though the Sun's gravity is much stronger.

The Moon is much closer to the Earth than the Sun. This closer proximity means the Moon's gravitational pull has a greater effect on the Earth's oceans, creating tidal bulges.

What are spring tides and what alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth causes them?

Spring tides are higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides. They occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are approximately aligned during a new moon or full moon.

Describe neap tides and the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth that results in them.

Neap tides have a smaller tidal range than normal. They occur when the line from the Earth to the Moon is at right angles to the line from the Earth to the Sun, during the Moon's quarter phases.

How does the Coriolis effect influence the movement of tidal bulges in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

The Coriolis effect causes the tidal bulge to bend to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, creating a clockwise movement, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, creating an anti-clockwise movement.

What is an amphidromic point, and how does it relate to the amphidromic system?

An amphidromic point is a node within an ocean basin that experiences virtually no tidal fluctuation. The amphidromic system is the circulatory system created as the tidal wave rotates around this point.

What Causes Tides? Lesson Plan for Grade 8th Grade

Lesson Preview

Learning Objective

I can explain how the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun cause tides.

1
Tides are caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun, with the Moon having a greater influence due to its closer proximity to Earth.
2
When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during a new moon or full moon, spring tides occur, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides, while neap tides occur during the moon's quarter phases.
3
Tidal patterns include semi-diurnal tides (two high and two low tides daily), mixed semi-diurnal tides (varying tidal ranges), and diurnal tides (one high and one low tide daily).

What Causes Tides?

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Learning Objective

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Key Concepts

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