Earth, Moon and Sun: Tides and Seasons

Autumnal (Fall) Equinox

When the axis of Earth is not tipped toward or away from the sun. Both hemispheres of the Earth receive equal amounts of daylight and darkness. Occurs in September for the Northern Hemisphere.

Axis

The line around which an object rotates

Day (24 hours)

Time it takes the Earth rotates on its axis once

Ebb Current

The flow of water seaward during a decrease in the height of the tide

Flood Current/Tide

Inflow of water when tide rises

Gravity

A force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses.

Hemisphere

One half of the earth

High tide

When the waves reach the highest point on the shore (2x a day)

Low tide

When the waves reach the lowest point on the shore (2x a day)

Neap tide

The lowest high tide & highest low tide - when the sun, moon and Earth make a right angle (2x a month)

Orbit

The path one object moves around another object in a roughly circular motion

Revolution

Circular motion around another object.

Rotation

Spinning on an axis, circular motion of an object.

Seasons

Temporary climate changes caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis changing angle of sunlight as the Earth revolves around the sun

Spring tide

The highest high tide & lowest low tide - when the sun, moon and Earth are lined up (2x a month)

Summer Solstice

When a hemisphere (northern or southern) is tilted TOWARDS the sun. Occurs in June for the Northern Hemisphere.

Tides

The changing level of the ocean on the shoreline, cause by the pull of the moon and the sun on the oceans' water level

Tilt

The angle made by a planet's axis and a line drawn perpendicular to the planet's orbit around the sun.

Vernal (Spring) Equinox

When the axis of Earth is not tipped toward or away from the sun. Both hemispheres of the Earth receive equal amounts of daylight and darkness. Occurs in March for the Northern Hemisphere.

Winter Solstice

When a hemisphere (northern or southern) is tilted AWAY from the sun. Occurs in December for the Northern Hemisphere.

Year

Time it takes the Earth to revolve around the sun once;