Ch 11: Tides

Ch 11: Tides

1. Objectives

   • learn about regular rise and fall of tides
   • investigate tides expected on non-rotating planet covered uniformly with water (equilibrium tidal theory
   • study tides as they actually occur, made more complex by continents, oceans basins, rotation (dynamic tidal analysis)

2. Major Concepts

   • I.
     • tides generated by forces
       • sun
       • moon
       • rotation of earth-moon system
   • II.
     • fluctuating tide water levels
   • III.
     • mathematical study of ideal tides
       • equilibrium tidal theory
         • laws of physics
       • dynamic tidal theory
         • natural occurence
   • IV.
     • moon is most influential body in generating tides
   • V.
     • lunar and solar tides interfere
       • periods different
       • constructive or destructive depending on time
         • add tides to approximate real
   • VI.
     • latitude moon or sun overhead varies with time in regular fashion
   • VII.