Tides and the Moon

The scene lets students explore the orbiting moon around the rotating Earth. Students will observe the changing tides relative to the position of the moon over Earth. As large masses, they’ll consider the effect the pull of gravity has when the moon exerts that force on the Earth and the impact it has on tidal movement.

# Learning objectives

1: Know that Gravity from the moon pulls water on Earth {.info}

2: Know how the Moon’s Orbit affects Tidal Movement {.info}

3: Know how the Earth’s Rotation Affects Tidal Movement {.info}

# The Moon and Gravity {.objective .objective1}

Students will learn about how the moon’s gravity exerts that force on Earth causing the oceans and seas to bugle on the near side and far side of the moon’s position over Earth.

Students will be asked to explore the scene and observe the coastlines to see the distribution of water relative to the position of the moon. They’ll be asked to think about where low and high tide is and why.

# Orbiting Moon and Tides {.objective .objective2}

Students will learn about how the orbiting moon can lead to the redistribution of water, as the moon doesn’t stay over the same position over Earth. Students will observe how the tidal movement causes high and low tide to change location due to the moon moving position.

Students will be asked to explore the scene and observe the orbiting moon. They’ll be asked to observe the coastlines and how the tides change as the moon changes position and therefore gravity being exerted at different location on the surface of the Earth.

# Rotating Earth and Tides {.objective .objective3}

Students will learn about how the Earth rotating on its own axis affects the redistribution of ocean water. They will learn that both the moving moon as well as the rotating earth, and not at the same speed, will cause the position of the moon to change frequently over the surface of the Earth and therefore affect tidal movement at the coastline. Students will learn how other factors can also influence how and where the ocean water redistributes as the moon’s gravity pulls on it.

Students will be asked to explore the scene and observe the differing speeds the moon orbits relative to the Earth’s rotation on its axis. They will be asked to think about the impact the different speeds have on the moon’s frequently changing position over Earth and therefore the distribution of water and tidal movement consequently.

# Teacher Resources

### Download Teacher Notes

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/763987/files/Tides%20and+the+Moon+Teacher+Notes.pdf?date=1649922759&size=1141941&md5=d19d86fb1b097fac824d3cd5117dd74f)

### Student Quiz Answers Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/794555/files/Tides%20and+the+Moon+Teacher+Notes+2.pdf?date=1677758161&size=507231&md5=460349f12b18791368a430f2253801e3)

### Download Student Quiz Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/794556/files/Tides%20and+the+Moon+Teacher+Notes+3.pdf?date=1677758316&size=95219&md5=8886ee14b5061c4e9feb92e6e0a3cfc6)