Spheres, Systems & Tides

tides

daily changes in the level of

ocean water; periodic rise and fall of the

water level in the oceans and other large

bodies of water.

what causes tides?

The gravity of the moon pulls on

everything on the Earth. The moon's gravitational pull on liquids is much more noticeable than on solids.

strongest pull of moon

the part of the Earth directly facing the moon.

high tide

The part of the ocean directly facing the

moon, bulges towards the moon. There is a corresponding bulge on the opposite side of the Earth.

low tide

When high tides occur, water is drawn

away from the area between the high

tides

how many tides a day

Generally there are 2 complete tidal cycles a day.

semi diurnal tide system

two equal sized high and low tides a day: east coast

diurnal tide

one high and one low tide a day, gulf of mexico

mixed semi diurnal tide

two high and two low tides of different sizes a day. west coast

tidal range

the difference in levels of

ocean water at high tide and low tide.

intertidal zone

area that is above water at low tide and

under water at high tide

Spring tide

A tide with a large

tidal range that occurs

two times a month

(new moon and full

moon) Sun, Earth, and the

moon are aligned

Neap Tide

A tide of minimum

range that occurs

during the first and

third quarters of the

moon The sun, Earth, and

moon form a 90

degree angle

geosphere

The mostly solid, rocky part of the Earth; extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust.

biosphere

consists of all living things on Earth

hydrosphere

all the water in Earth's oceans, lakes, seas, and rivers, plus all the water in the atmosphere and the ground

Cryosphere

A term referring to all water that is temporarily frozen in polar ice caps, snow, permafrost, and glaciers

atmosphere

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

open system

a system in which exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries

closed system

A system in which no matter is allowed to enter or leave, but energy can enter and leave

matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space

isolated system

A system that can exchange neither energy nor matter with its surroundings.

energy

the ability to do work, can be found in the form of solar, chemical, heat or mechanical form

ecosystem

A community of organisms and their abiotic environment

biotic factors

All the living organisms that inhabit an environment

abiotic factors

Nonliving components of environment.