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Tides Definition

Tides are the ocean's water levels rising and falling due to the moon's gravitational pull. For example, the ocean bulges towards the moon, causing high tides.

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Moon & Its Phases

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • The moon's gravitational pull creates a "tidal force" that pulls on ocean water.
  • Ocean water bulges out on the side of the earth facing the moon and on the side of the earth opposite the moon at the same time.
  • The bulges are high tides, and the flatter parts are low tides.

Why Do We Need To Know About Tides

Learning about tides helps us understand how the moon’s gravity makes the ocean’s water levels go up and down. This is important for people living near the coast, fishermen, and those working at sea because it affects their everyday lives and jobs. Knowing about tides is also important for protecting the environment and planning things better.

Studying tides can also teach us about space, other planets, and moons. This can help people interested in working in space exploration, studying stars, or learning about different planets. So, learning about tides is useful for many things, from sailing on the ocean to exploring space.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the moon to look like it is changing shape?
As the moon orbits the earth, the sun always shines on half of it, but from Earth we may only see part of that illuminated surface. The phase we see depends on where the moon is in its orbit around the Earth.
Where does the light of the moon come from?
The moon is lit by the sun. It is important to remember that the moon does not make its own light, it only reflects light from the sun.
What makes the moon and sun look like they are the same size?
The moon is smaller than the sun but it is also 400 times closer. That makes it seem like it is the same size as the sun.
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