Tides - History, Theories Of Tidal Action, Variables Affecting Tidal Forces, Tide Tables, Semidiurnal And Diurnal Tides

Tides - History

Tides - Theories Of Tidal Action

The side of the Earth that faces the Moon experiences a larger gravitational pull, due to the Moon's closer proximity, than other parts of the Earth. This force causes the Earth itself to bulge slightly toward the Moon. This bulge is termed an Earth tide. Since water is free to move horizontally, the oceans tend to flow over the Earth's surface and collect in a secondary bulge on top…

Tides - Variables Affecting Tidal Forces

Physicists have derived precise mathematical expressions to describe the gravitational effects of the Moon and the Sun on the Earth. In theory, therefore, it should be possible to make precise predictions of the timing and sizes of all of ocean tides. In fact, absolutely precise predictions Low tide at Big Pine Key, Florida. JLM Visuals. Reproduced by permission. are not possible because a…

Tides - Tide Tables

Tides - Semidiurnal And Diurnal Tides

In most places, tides are semidiurnal (twice-daily), meaning that there are two tidal cycles (with one high tide and one low apiece) each day. In other words, during a typical day the tides reach their highest point along the shore and their lowest point twice each day. The high-water level reached during one of the high tide stages is usually higher than the other high point, and the low High …

Tides - Effect Of The Moon's Motion Around Earth

Tides - Tidal Currents

Any movement of ocean water caused by tidal action is known as a tidal current. In open water, tidal currents are relatively weak and tend to change direction slowly and regularly throughout the day. They form a kind of rotary pattern that sweeps around the ocean like the minute hand on a clock. Closer to land, however, tidal currents tend to change direction rather quickly, flowing toward land du…

Tides - Some Side Effects Of The Tides

(1) Because the Earth's comparatively rapid rotation is continually dragging the tidal bulges away from their ideal locations, the Moon-facing bulge is always slightly ahead of the Moon in the direction of its orbit. (The Moon orbits in the same sense as the Earth spins.) The gravitational pull of the bulge thus tends to accelerate the Moon slightly, which causes it to orbit slightly higher…

Tides - Tidal Power Plants

Engineers have long recognized that the movement of tidal currents might be an inexpensive, efficient, and environmentally safe source of power for human use. In general, the plan would be to construct a dam across the entrance of an estuary through which tidal currents flow with significant speed. Then, as tidal currents flow into and out of the estuary twice each day, they could be used to drive…