Wateron the Move Quiz

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WaterOn the Move Quiz

In the box below draw a diagram of the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon depicting the tides, as seen by looking down on the North Pole. Label high tide, low tide, the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon.

Using information from your diagram, explain in complete sentences, what causes high and low tides to occur.

If you can see the Full moon your area is experiencing a high/low tide during a spring/neap tide.

Explain why you chose your answers from question 3 using complete sentences (a diagram may be included).

Why does every area of the Earth experience two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours (approximately)? Answer in complete sentences (a diagram may be included).

Water On the Move Quiz

Answer Key

or any variation of the Sun, Earth, and Moon’s positions which show the high tides in the direction towards and opposite the Moon.

Answer should explain that the gravity of the Moon is the main cause of the tides. The Moon’s gravity pulls on the water of the Earth towards it causing a tidal bulge. This is where the high tides occur. Low tides occur where water has been pulled away from an area towards the Moon. The Sun’s gravity also has a small effect on the tides in the same way the Moon does, but the Moon’s gravity is the main reason for the tides.

If you can see the Full moon your area is experiencing a high/low tide during a spring/neap tide.

If you can see the full moon it means that it is high tide because your area is in the tidal bulge towards the Moon causing water levels to be higher than normal. It is a spring tide because spring tides occur when the Moon and the Sun form a line and the gravity of both objects combine on the Earth, and in order to see a Full Moon the Earth has to be between the Sun and Moon.

The tidal bulges always occur towards the Moon and on the opposite side of the Earth from the Moon. Since the Earth makes a full rotation during a 24 hour period, every area on Earth must pass through the two tidal bulges (high tides) and the two areas of low tides.