About the Tides Worksheets - Free Printable

- Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun.
- The moon’s gravity pulls water on Earth toward it, creating a bulge (high tide) on the side facing the moon.
- A second high tide occurs on the opposite side of Earth due to inertia and the centrifugal effect of Earth-moon rotation.
- Low tides occur at the points perpendicular to these bulges, where water is drawn away.
- When the sun, moon, and Earth align (during new and full moons), their combined gravitational forces create higher high tides and lower low tides, called spring tides.
- Spring tides have nothing to do with the season; they are named for the concept of “springing forth.”
- When the sun and moon are at right angles relative to Earth, their gravitational pulls partially cancel, resulting in neap tides — smaller tidal ranges.