Name: __________________________________Date _________________________ Period _____
EARTHS’ TIDES
TIDAL BULGE SIMULATION
http://astro.unl.edu/classaction/animations/lunarcycles/tidesim.html
This simulation shows how the sun, moon, and earth move to create tides. The blue area surrounding Earth
represents Earth’s tides. Click on the 3 boxes to RUN the simulation. Make 3 observations about Earth’s
tides:
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WHAT CAUSES THE TIDES?
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/venice/media/tides.swf
Read each slide and observe the pictures. Then answer the following questions that correspond with the 8
slides.
Slide 1: What 2 forces cause tidal bulges?
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Slide 2: The moon’s _________________________ pulls the ocean towards itself.
Slide 3: Why do you think Earth’s common center of gravity is not actually in the center of Earth?
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Slide 4: What is centrifugal force?
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Slide 5: What would happen to Earth’s tidal bulge if there was no gravity from the moon?
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Slide 6: The Earth’s surface on the side facing the moon is ________________ miles closer to the
moon than the side of Earth not facing the moon.
Slide 7: Why do the oceans on the opposite side of the Earth and Moon bulge outwards?
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Slide 8: How many times do most places on Earth receive high tides? __________________
** Click on TIDAL CURIOSITITES, scroll down to the title “Why do the biggest tides happen when
the moon is a new and full?”
What did you learn about the sun’s gravity and Earth’s tides?
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Throughout the 8 slides the moon was referred to as a “satellite”. What is a satellite?
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