eclipses and tides

eclipses

Eclipses

• A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between the earth and the sun
• The moon casts a shadow over the earth
• A solar eclipse can only take place during the moon phase of the new moon
• There are 2 different types of eclipses- solar eclipses and lunar eclipses

Solar eclipse

• It occurs during the new moon phase
• It is when the moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth
• It's shadow falls upon earths surface

LuNAR ECLIPSE

• It occurs when the moon passes directly behind Earth into it's shadow (umbra)
• This occurs when the Earth and Moon are aligned (in syzygy)
• A lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon

FUN FACTS ABOUT ECLIPSES

• Lunar eclipses can occur up to 3 times a year
• They usually alternate going by: Lunar, solar, lunar
• The maximum time a lunar eclipse can last is 3hrs & 40min
• The maximum time a solar eclipse can last is 7min & 40sec
• Lunar eclipses are visible over an entire hemisphere
• Solar eclipses are visible over a narrow path & a maximum of 167 miles wide

TIDES

tIDES

• They are the rise and fall of sea levels
• They are caused by the combination of gravitational forces exterted by the moon,sun, and rotation of the earth
• There are 2 different types of tides: Spring tides & Neap tides

Spring tides

• They are especially strong tides
• Contrary to their name they have nothing to do with the season of spring
• They occur when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are in a line
• The gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun both help the tides
• They occur during both the Full moon & the New moon

Neap tides

• This is a tide just after the first and third quarters of the moon
• During this time there is a small difference between high and low waters

Fun facts about tides

• The type of gravitational force that causes tides are known as tractive forces
• The highest tides in the world are recorded in Canada
• Offshore the difference in tides are usually less than 1.6ft.
• The suns gravity also produces tides but the strength is greatly reduced
• Spring and Neap tides are about 20% higher or lower than average

The end