Tide

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tide

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary drivers of tides?Gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun, and Earth's rotation
2. What causes the tide to rise and fall?The tide rises and falls because the Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, creating a bulge of water on the side facing the Moon and another on the opposite side.
3. Why is the Moon more important than the Sun for tides?The Moon is closer to Earth, so its gravity is stronger; the Sun's pull is only about 46% as strong, so the Moon dominates the tidal effect.

Differential Gravitation: The variation in gravitational force across an object due to distance.
Syzygy: A straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies, such as the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Tidal Prism: The volume of water that moves in and out of an estuary or bay during a tidal cycle.