Earth with points A, B, and C. The moon is to the right of Earth. A: Near the center of Earth. B: At the top of Earth. C: on the right side of Earth.

Question

Review the image and answer the questions that follow.

Which point on the surface of Earth is experiencing high tide?

Which point on the surface of Earth is experiencing low tide?

What causes these tides to occur?

Answer 1

To answer your questions based on the scenario described with points A, B, and C on Earth:

1. Which point on the surface of Earth is experiencing high tide?
   Point B, which is at the top of Earth, is likely experiencing high tide. This is because high tide typically occurs on the side of Earth that is facing the moon, where the gravitational pull is strongest.

2. Which point on the surface of Earth is experiencing low tide?
   Point A, located near the center of Earth, would generally be experiencing low tide. This is due to the fact that low tides occur on the side of Earth opposite to the moon (in this case, the side of Earth away from point C).

3. What causes these tides to occur?
   Tides are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on Earth's oceans. The moon's gravitational force draws the water towards it, creating a bulge (high tide) on the side facing the moon (point B). On the opposite side of Earth, there is another bulge (also creating high tide) due to the centrifugal force created by the Earth-moon system's rotation. Areas between these bulges experience low tides.

In summary, Point B is experiencing high tide, Point A is experiencing low tide, and the primary cause of tides is the gravitational influence of the moon along with the effects of Earth's rotation.