Name ______________________ Date ____ / ____ / ____

SPRING AND NEAP TIDE

The ocean's tides are caused mainly by the gravitational effects of the moon, but also by
the sun to a lesser degree. When the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned, the overall
gravitational pull is the greatest and causes the largest tides: spring tides. When the
Earth, moon, and sun are at right angles, the pull is minimized and causes the weakest
tides: neap tides. Provide the following labels on the figure below: neap tides, spring
tides, sun, earth and moon. Also, draw arrows indicating the gravitational pull on the
Earth coming from the sun and moon.

__Earth__ __Moon__

__Sun__
spring
____________________ tides

pull

__Earth__

__Moon__

__Sun__
neap
____________________ tides

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