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Name: Core:
Background
In most parts of the world, the difference between high and low tide amounts to only a few feet. Nevertheless, this change in water level still is enough to be very important. In many places at low tide, the water is too shallow to allow boats to move effectively into or out of harbors, whereas at high tide it is deep enough for them to do so. Because of their effect on navigation, tides have been studied for many years, and today physical oceanographers know quite a bit about their causes and characteristics. The predictable movement of the Earth and moon can help us predict when tides will occur. Tides can be predicted. In this activity, you will look at tide data and choose a location for your water turbine.
Procedure :
1.
Google search “NOAA tide predictions” and click on the first link.
2.
Select a station in Maine.
3.
Record the name of the station here: ___________________________________________.
4.
Look closely at the graph for a 24 hour period and see how many low and how many high tides are in this location (Make sure you only look from 12 am to 12 am).
5.
Compare your graph to the ones shown below:
6.
C o m p t l e e t he chart below:
Location (State, Name of Location)
Tidal cycle (diurnal, semidiurnal, mixed)
# of High Tides
Per Day
# of Low Tides
Per Day
7.
Draw a round sketch of the 12 hour tide levels below:
2

8.
Repeat the steps for a station in Louisiana
9.
Record the name of the station here: ____________________________________________________.
10.
Look closely at the graph for a 24 hour period and see how many low and how many high tides are in this location (Make sure you only look from 12 am to 12 am).
11.
Complete the chart below:
Location (State, Name of Location)
Tidal cycle (diurnal, semidiurnal, mixed)
12.
Draw a rough sketch of the tidal data below:
# of High Tides
Per Day
# of Low Tides
Per Day
13.
Repeat the steps for a station in Northern California
14.
Record the name of the station here: ____________________________________________________.
15.
Look closely at the graph for a 24 hour period and see how many low and how many high tides are in this location (Make sure you only look from 12 am to 12 am).
16.
Complete the chart below:
Location (State, Name of Location)
Tidal cycle (diurnal, semidiurnal, mixed)
# High Tides Per
Day
# Low Tides Per
Day
17.
Google Search, “NOAA tide data station selection” and click the first link.
18.
Choose a station along the coast of Maine (Portland, Wells, Cutler Ferris Wharf). Find a station where data is provided.
19.
Record the name of your Maine station here: _________________________________________________
20.
Draw a rough sketch of the tidal data below:
3

21.
Select a range of three months. (Confused? See the example below)
22.
Change the “Interval” to “High/ low WL” and then click view plot.
1 st Notice:
Feb. 28, 2013- May 2013 is 3 months
23.
Your graph should look like this:
3 rd click on “View Plot
2 nd Change the Interval to
High/ low WL
4
Click here for a larger picture of your graph.
24.
Click on the larger picture of your graph and print the document for each member of your team. .
25.
Repeat steps 15-21 for a location in Louisiana (Pilots Station East, Grand Isle, Carrollton, West Bank, Lake
Charles, Shell Beach)
26.
Record the name of your Louisiana station here: ______________________________________________
27.
Print your Louisiana tide data for each team member.

28.
Repeat steps 15-21 for a location in northern California (North Spit, Crescent City, Arena Cove, Point
Reyes )
29.
Record the name of your northern California station here:
______________________________________________
30.
Print your northern California tide data for each team member.
31.
Once you have a graph for Maine, Louisiana, and northern California complete the following steps: o Draw a straight line on each graph connecting the low tides (through the lowest red +s) o Draw a straight line on each graph connecting the high tides (through the highest red +s)
32.
Tides are cyclical and predictable. During the new and full moons, the distance between high and low tides increases (high tides get higher and low tides get lower), these are called spring tides.
5
Use your graphs and the chart above to predict when the new moon and full moon occurred. Label the full and new moons on each of your three month tidal charts.
33.
Google search, “Moon Connection Phases Calendar” and click the first link.

34.
Fill out the chart below:
Predicted Spring Tide Datse Actual Dates
Use your chart to predict when the half moons occur (1 st Quarter, and 3 rd / Last Quarter). Label the full and new moons on each of your three month tidal charts.
35.
Google search, “Moon Connection Phases Calendar” and click the first link.
36.
Fill out the chart below:
Predicted Neap Tide Dates Actual Dates
37.
Google Search “NOAA tidal station” and click on Maine.
38.
Click on the “Map these stations” button.
Click “Map these stations” to see a virtual map of all of the tidal stations.
6

7
39.
Find all of your tidal stations and label them on the map below:

8
40.
Complete the following chart to summarize the tidal patterns of the three locations.
Range of wave height (ft) during spring tide
(Highest Value – Lowest Value)
Range of wave height (ft) during neap tide
(Highest Value – Lowest Value)

41.
Based on the data you collected, pick one location where you think a tidal generator would be beneficial in the United States.
Location where tidal generator would be the most useful: _______________________________________.
42.
Explain why you think this location would be the best of the three you explored. Support your answer with evidence.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
43.
:A tidal energy company needs to know the future power output for a given area. The company needs to know when tides are going to be strong (spring tides) and when the tides are going to be weak (neap tides)
Google Search “
Moon Connection Phases Calendar
” and fill in the chart for the next 3 months from today.
Moon phase
New
Spring or neap tide
Strong or weak tides? Date(s):
First Quarter
3 rd
Full
or Last Quarter
New
First Quarter
Full
3 rd or Last Quarter
New
First Quarter
Full
3 rd or Last Quarter
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Extension :
1.
Google search, “ tidal stream power gatech ”
2.
Click the first link.
3.
Click “Accept”
4.
Click the unlabeled Globe and select “Street Map”
5.
Change the “Data Layer” to “Mean Kinetic Power Density.”
6.
Click “Show Legend” and then “Power Density
7.
Scroll around the map and zoom in to different parts of the coast.
List the states where the Mean Kinetic Power Density is the greatest. This will be indicated with a yellow, orange, or red color.
8.
Select “satellite view” and zoom in to a reasonable level of detail for the coast line.
9.
How might the shape of the coastline and the underwater topography/ shape of the coastline influence the type of tide for a location? If you look closely you will see underwater ridges or mountains.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________
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Name: Core:
Tides Pre-Test & Post-Test
1.
How long does it take the Moon to complete a cycle of phases or a lunar month (new moon to new moon)?
A.
15 days
B.
29.5 days
C.
One year
D.
365 ¼ days
2.
What is a tide?
A.
The point at which waves break on shore.
B.
The amount of water that seeps into the sand
C.
The rise and fall of ocean water levels
D.
A giant wave, also known as a tsunami, caused by underwater earthquakes.
3.
What two forces cause the tides?
A.
Moon’s inertia and Sun’s gravity
B.
Moon’s gravity and Earth’s gravity
C.
Sun’s gravity and Moon’s gravity
D.
Earth’s gravity and Earth’s inertia
4.
If you were in Earth’s tidal bulge, what tide would you experience?
A.
High tide
B.
Low tide
C.
Neap tide
D.
Spring tide
5.
If you were in the ocean on the opposite side of Earth from the moon, what tide would you experience?
A.
High tide
B.
Low tide
C.
Neap tide
D.
Spring tide
6.
If you were in-between Earth’s tidal bulges, what tide would you experience?
A.
High Tide
B.
Low tide
C.
Neap tide
D.
Spring tide
7.
About how long would you have to wait to see another high tide once one has occurred?
A.
6 hours
B.
12 hours
C.
18 hours
D.
24 hours
8.
About how long would you have to wait to see a high tide after a low tide?
A.
6 hours
B.
12 hours
C.
18 hours
D.
24 hours
9.
Which of these has the greatest influence on the tides of the Earth’s oceans?
A.
The position of the moon relative to the Earth
B.
The alignment of the planets (when they all line up in a straight line)
C.
The amount of rainfall on a given day
D.
The amount of sunlight striking the Earth
10.
You saw a full moon on June 11, which date would be the closest time to the next full moon?
A.
July 3
B.
July 11
11

C.
July 17
D.
July 25
11.
Spring tides have greater tidal ranges than neap tides because…
A.
The sun and Earth and moon are aligned (lined up in a straight line).
B.
The Earth and moon are aligned (lined up in a straight line)
C.
The Earth and sun are aligned (lined up in a straight line)
D.
Spring tides occur during the Spring season, which has more rainfall than the other seasons.
Use the diagrams below to help you answer Questions 12 and 13
12.
Which diagrams above best illustrate the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during a spring tide?
A.
A and C
B.
C and D
C.
B and D
D.
A and B
13.
Which diagrams above best illustrate the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during a neap tide?
A.
A and C
B.
C and D
C.
B and D
D.
A and B
14.
Which tides have the largest difference in water level between high and low tides?
A.
Neap tides
B.
Spring tides
C.
High tides
D.
Low tides
15.
Which tides have the smallest difference in water level between high and low tides?
A.
Neap tides
B.
Spring tides
C.
High tides
D.
Low tides
16.
Most locations experience ______high and _______low tides each day?
A. 4
B. 1
C. 2
D. The number changes every 15 days
17.
During which two moon phases of the moon do spring tides occur?
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A. 1 st and Last Quarter
B. New and Full Moon
C. Waxing Crescent and Waning Crescent
D. New and 1 st Quarter
18.
During which two moon phases do neap tides occur?
A.
1 st and 3 rd Quarter
B.
New and Full Moon
C.
Waxing Crescent and Waning Crescent
D.
New and 1 st Quarter
19.
Spring tides and neap tides occur how many times each, per month?
A.
Once
B.
Twice
C.
Three times
D.
Every day
20.
Which tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned (in a straight line)?
A.
Spring tides
B.
Neap tides
C.
High tides
D.
Low tides
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