Earth's ocean has a tidal bulge on the side facing the moon and another on the far side. Which statement best accounts for the far-side bulge?

The sun is about 27 million times more massive than the moon, but about 390 times farther from Earth. What does this explain about ocean tides?

A rocky tide pool is covered by seawater at dawn and left standing above the water by midday. What mainly causes the sea level at that shore to fall?

A class claims the moon's gravity is the main cause of ocean tides. Which observation best supports that claim?

High tide at a harbor arrives a little later each day, and moonrise at that harbor is later by the same amount. Which reasoning links this evidence to the claim that the moon drives the tides?

The moon's gravitational pull on the ocean nearest it is stronger than its pull on the ocean on the opposite side of Earth.

A student says the moon's gravity lifts ocean water straight up the way a magnet lifts a pin. Which correction matches how a tidal bulge actually forms?

At full moon the sun and moon lie on opposite sides of Earth. Compared with an average week, what tidal range should a coast record that week?

A harbor's records show its largest tidal range at full moon and its smallest at third quarter. What accounts for the smallest range?

Use the table of weekly tidal ranges and moon phases at one port. Which pair of phases produced that month's spring tides?

A harbor's tidal range is 2.0 m at neap tide and 3.6 m at spring tide. Next week the moon reaches first quarter. What range should the harbor expect?

Boat crews at a harbor warn of a spring tide coming in January. Which situation is producing it?

Neap tides produce a greater tidal range than spring tides.

During a total solar eclipse the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth. What tidal range should coasts record that day?

A tide table lists high tides at a pier at 3:05 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Using the spacing shown, about when is the high tide after those two?

Use the harbor's table of morning high tides. Following the pattern it shows, about when should Thursday's morning high tide arrive?

High tide at a pier comes at 2:10 a.m., and the next high tide comes at 2:35 p.m. About when is the low tide between them?

Monday's high tides at a port are listed as 5:00 a.m. and 5:25 p.m. A student says the tide runs on a six-hour cycle. What do the listed times show instead?

At most coasts the wait from one high tide to the next is a little longer than 12 hours. What causes the extra time?

Look at the graph of water height measured at a pier through one day. How many high tides and how many low tides does the record show?