Ocean Waves and Tides

Start with wave generation

The Wave Generation mind map brings together wave terminology, water motion and interference. It includes terms such as period, frequency, height and wavelength, as well as crests and troughs. It also covers waves in shallow water and the idea of a fully developed sea.

Start by looking over the terms on the map. Then use a waves quiz to check how well you recognize them in questions. The quizzes ask about subjects including wave speed, water depth, wave height and the time between successive crests or troughs.

Explore tides

The Tides mind map covers neap tides and spring tides, including their tidal ranges and connections with moon phases. The Tides quiz asks what tides are, what causes them and how tide waves are described.

You could look at the map before taking the quiz, then return to it when a term needs another look. Other questions on the page ask about high tides and the difference between high and low tides. Together, the resources give you different ways to practice the language used to describe tides.

Use the collection together

The flashcards on the page include questions about waves and wave energy. They offer another way to practice after looking at a map or taking a quiz. Try explaining a term in your own words before checking the resource, then use the quizzes to find ideas you want to revisit.

Ocean Waves and Tides is a section of the Oceanography unit in Geology and earth sciences. The resources on this page let you study the topic through maps, questions and flashcards rather than relying on a single format. Choose a resource and see which approach works for you.