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9th grade Why the tides rise and fall worksheet

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Why the tides rise and fall

Grade 9 Science Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Read this first

    Table, Tide table for a beach (model data), with columns Tide, Time, Height (m)

    High, 5:10 a.m., 1.8; low, 11:22 a.m., 0.3; high, 5:35 p.m., 1.7; low, 11:47 p.m., 0.4.

  2. Bo reads the tide table before exploring tide pools. What is the drop from the morning high to the late-morning low?

    • 1.5 m
    • 2.1 m
    • 0.3 m
    • 1.8 m
  3. Using the tide table, about when will tomorrow's first high tide come, by Esme's math?

    • About 5:10 a.m., the same as today
    • About 5:35 a.m.
    • About 4:20 a.m.
    • About 6:00 a.m.
  4. How long is it from the 5:10 a.m. high tide to the 5:35 p.m. high tide, by Jun's math?

    • 24 hours 50 minutes
    • 12 hours
    • 6 hours 12 minutes
    • 12 hours 25 minutes
  5. Tidal force ∝ mass ÷ distance³; Sun 27 million times the mass, 390 times the distance. NOAA: the Sun has 27 million times the Moon's mass but is 390 times as far away. Tidal force ∝ mass ÷ distance³. Compare the Sun's tidal force with the Moon's, by Kira's math.

    • About 0.46, under half
    • About 69,000 times stronger
    • About 27 million times stronger
    • About 177 times stronger
  6. Moon distance (NASA)

    PointDistance (km)
    perigee363,300
    apogee405,500
  7. The Moon is 363,300 km away at perigee and 405,500 km at apogee (NASA). How much stronger is its tidal force at perigee, by Noah's math?

    • About 1.25 times stronger
    • About 1.12 times stronger
    • It is weaker at perigee
    • About 1.39 times stronger
  8. Moon orbit diagram with perigee and apogee marked. When are tidal ranges larger than average, by Pia's reading (NOAA)?

    • On cloudy days
    • In the spring season
    • When the Moon is at apogee, farthest away
    • When the Moon is at perigee, closest to Earth
  9. Earth's orbit with perihelion marked about January 2. Earth is closest to the Sun about January 2 (NOAA). What happens to the tides then, by Ren's reading?

    • Tidal ranges are a little larger
    • Spring tides happen in January alone
    • Tides become smaller
    • Tides stop for the day
  10. At full Moon, the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of Earth. Why is that still a spring tide, by Tala's reading?

    • Their bulges line up along one line and add together
    • The Sun's bulge sits across and cancels
    • Full Moonlight lifts the water
    • Opposite sides cancel, so tides are small
  11. At first quarter Moon, why are tides moderate (neap), by Zee's reading (NOAA)?

    • The Sun and Moon line up
    • The Sun's tide is at a right angle and partly cancels the Moon's
    • The Moon is closest then
    • It is winter at first quarter
  12. Moon-phase calendar starting at new Moon on Monday. A spring tide comes with Monday's new Moon. About when is the next spring tide, by Ari's reading?

    • About one week later, at first quarter
    • About two weeks later, at full Moon
    • About two months later
    • Next spring
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9th grade Why the tides rise and fall worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Why the tides rise and fall. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can explain the two tidal bulges and why most coasts get two high tides every 24 hours 50 minutes.
  • I can tell spring tides (new and full Moon) from neap tides (quarter Moons) and read a tide table.
  • I can use tidal force ∝ mass ÷ distance³ to compare the Moon and Sun and the Moon at perigee and apogee.

Standard: supports HS-ESS1-4

Words to know

tidal bulge: A rise of ocean water facing or opposite the Moon

spring tide: Extra-large range at new and full Moon

neap tide: Smaller range at first and third quarter

lunar day: 24 hours 50 minutes, one turn back under the Moon

tidal range: The height difference between high and low tide

Common mistakes

Your child gave the Sun the main role in the tides. NOAA: the Moon is the main cause; the Sun's tide-raising force is about half the Moon's.

Your child used distance squared for tides. Gravity falls with distance squared, but the tide-raising force falls with distance cubed (NOAA).

Your child pictured one tidal bulge. NOAA: there are two, one facing the Moon and one on the far side, so most coasts get two high tides a day.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with why the tides rise and fall?

Your child gave the Sun the main role in the tides. NOAA: the Moon is the main cause; the Sun's tide-raising force is about half the Moon's.

Are these 9th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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