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Changing of the Tides Trivia Quiz

A check on your understanding of the Earth's tides and tidal forces.

A multiple-choice quiz by wjames. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
wjames

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
355,604

Updated
Aug 14 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
923

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Different parts of the world experience a different number of tides each day. The most common cycle is two highs and two lows each day. What is this type of tide cycle called? Hint

Diurnal

Semi-diurnal

Spring

Flood

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Question 2 of 10

2. Earth's tides are caused by the influence of celestial bodies. Which body has the greatest influence on tides? Hint

Jupiter

Sun

Moon

Black holes

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Question 3 of 10

3. Tides tend to have the greatest range (height between successive highs and lows) when the Moon is in certain phases. Which phases are these? Hint

Waxing and Waning

Full and One-Quarter

New and Half

New and Full

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Question 4 of 10

4. When the Moon is at first quarter and third quarter, tides tend to have the least range (height between successive high and low). What are these "lower" tides called? Hint

Spring

Perigean

Bores

Neap

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Question 5 of 10

5. Only liquids, like the oceans, are affected by tides.

True

False

6. The shape of the coastline also greatly influences tidal heights. One area of steep topography and bathymetry is known for the highest recorded tidal range in the world - 56 ft. or 17 m. What place is this? Hint

Hafnarfj�r�ur, Iceland

St. Lawrence Seaway

Bay of Fundy

Anchorage, Alaska

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Question 7 of 10

7. People in California and Baja, Mexico flock to the beaches around the time of high tide at certain times of the year to scoop up buckets of a small silvery fish that spawn soon after the New and Full Moon. Which fish is this? Hint

Sardine

Blenny

Grunion

Anchovy

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Question 8 of 10

8. People often speak of the tide "ebbing" or "flooding", although those terms properly apply to tidal currents. When a tidal current is flooding, in which general direction is it flowing? Hint

Clockwise

North

Toward land

Offshore

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Question 9 of 10

9. Tidal currents flood and ebb, with maximum speed usually near the time halfway between maximum high and maximum low, when the largest volume of water is moving. What do you call the period or no or little current, usually near the time of high and low tide? Hint

Stand

Stagnation

Slack

Zero tide

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Question 10 of 10

10. During low tides, foragers (both human and animal) can easily access flora and fauna living in shallow areas on certain beaches. What are the shallow areas called? Hint

Tidal flats

Tide pools

Crevasses

Drumlins

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Different parts of the world experience a different number of tides each day. The most common cycle is two highs and two lows each day. What is this type of tide cycle called?

Answer: Semi-diurnal

Semi-diurnal is two lows and two highs per day, usually of equal height. If the like tides are of unequal height, that's known as a "mixed" tide.

2. Earth's tides are caused by the influence of celestial bodies. Which body has the greatest influence on tides?

Answer: Moon

Although the Sun has a greater gravitational force on the Earth, it's also much farther away than the Moon, so the Moon is the dominant cause of Earth's tides. The Sun's effect on Earth's tides is less than half that of the Moon.

3. Tides tend to have the greatest range (height between successive highs and lows) when the Moon is in certain phases. Which phases are these?

Answer: New and Full

When the Moon is full or new, it is in line with the Sun, so that both of those celestial bodies are pulling together on the Earth.

4. When the Moon is at first quarter and third quarter, tides tend to have the least range (height between successive high and low). What are these "lower" tides called?

Answer: Neap

At first and third quarter Moon, the Sun is approximately 90 degrees from the Moon. Thus, the force of the Sun tends to "flatten" the bulge of water caused by the Moon.

5. Only liquids, like the oceans, are affected by tides.

Answer: False

The solid part of the Earth is affected by tides, although it is much harder to measure the height difference. Some even say that humans are affected by tides, perhaps explaining the strange goings-on at the time of Full Moon.

Answer: Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The name may come from the Portuguese "fondo", or "funnel".

Answer: Grunion

In California, grunion spawn from March to August. There is no possession limit on grunion, but no tools may be used and California law does prohibit the wasting of any fish species - use all you take!

8. People often speak of the tide "ebbing" or "flooding", although those terms properly apply to tidal currents. When a tidal current is flooding, in which general direction is it flowing?

Answer: Toward land

Tides are caused by the Moon (mainly) creating a "bulge" of water on the Earth. As this bulge of water moves with the Moon, currents flood toward land bringing in more water; as the bulge moves on, currents ebb away from land and the tide drops.

Answer: Slack

If the current doesn't actually stop, the time of slack is when the direction changes from flood to ebb or vice-versa.

10. During low tides, foragers (both human and animal) can easily access flora and fauna living in shallow areas on certain beaches. What are the shallow areas called?

Answer: Tide pools

Tide pools contain hardy plants and animals that are specially adapted to survive in widely varying conditions. At high tide, the pools are flooded with sea water. At low tide, the pools are subject to wind, drying from the sun, higher salinity and predation from land animals.

Source: Author wjames

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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