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Tides (fwd)



A middle school science teacher posed the following questions about
Tides. I know that there was a discussion not to long ago about the two
tides a day question, but I am stumped to explain the other parts of the
query.

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Borland and I are trying to figure something out, and we need your help.
What do you know about tides? We know that the Atlantic coast has two
high tides and two low tides per day (day, here, meaning approximately 24
hrs. and 50 min.), and that those tides are of equal magnitude. The Gulf
of Mexico has one high tide and one low tide per day. The Pacific coast
has two high tides and two low tides a day of greatly different
magnitudes. Why?

Is this related to rotation of the earth? The features of the ocean
floor? Local Chambers of Commerce? You tell us!


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BOB DUNBAR dunbar@tenet.edu
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