🌊 Part 1: Understanding Tides

1. What causes tides on Earth?

Wind blowing across the ocean surface

Gravitational pull of the moon and sun

Earth's rotation only

Ocean currents moving around the planet

2. When does a location on Earth experience high tide?

When it faces away from both the moon and sun

When it faces towards the moon or is on the opposite side of Earth

Only when it faces the sun

When the moon is not visible in the sky

3. Which celestial body has the strongest effect on Earth's tides?

The sun, because it is much larger

The moon, because it is much closer to Earth

Both have exactly the same effect

Neither - tides are caused by Earth's rotation

4. How many high tides occur at any location on Earth in approximately 24 hours?

One

Two

Three

Four

🌙 Part 2: Spring and Neap Tides

5. Complete the sentences using the words from the box:

Word Bank: aligned, spring, neap, quarter, new, full, smaller, higher

When the sun, moon, and Earth are _____________ (during _____________ and _____________ moon phases), we get _____________ tides with _____________ high tides and lower low tides.

During _____________ moon phases, we get _____________ tides with _____________ tidal ranges.

6. Explain why there are two high tides each day at most coastal locations:

🔬 Part 3: Modelling and Application

7. Draw and label a diagram showing the Earth-Moon-Sun system during spring tides. Include labels for: Earth, Moon, Sun, high tide, low tide.

8. A surfer in Sydney notices that high tide today is at 6:00 AM. Based on your understanding of tides, predict when the next high tide will occur:

12:00 PM (6 hours later)

6:30 PM (approximately 12.5 hours later)

6:00 PM (12 hours later)

6:00 AM tomorrow (24 hours later)

9. Using scientific vocabulary, explain how the moon's gravity affects ocean water to create tides. Use at least three of these terms: gravity, orbit, rotation, high tide, low tide.

10. Real-world connection: How might understanding tides be important for people living in coastal areas of Australia? Give two examples.