Water on Earth

The Science of Tides

Copyright 2000 David Reibstein

Written by David Reibstein and reviewed by the
SCSP Water on Earth teachers team

Outline

1. Causes of ocean tides

1. What you will find when you look for an explanation
2. Interaction of the earth and the moon
3. Rotation of the earth-moon system around their common center of gravity
4. Inertia
5. Tidal periods

2. Complexity of tidal patterns

1. Why the tides are later each day
2. The effect of the earth's ocean basins and land masses
3. Actual tidal patterns
4. Other factors
   1. the sun
   2. tides in the solid earth and the atmosphere
5. Tides in the solid earth and the atmosphere

3. Where to get more information

See also Discovery Activities for Tides