Why Does the Ocean Move?
The Science of Tides – Why Does the Ocean Move?
Hello, Tiny Tide Enthusiasts!
Have you ever noticed how the shoreline changes throughout the day? Sometimes the water is way up the beach, and other times it pulls far back, revealing more sand and rock pools. That’s because of the tides!
Ready to Learn?
• The moon’s gravity pulls on Earth’s water, creating high and low tides.
• Most beaches have two high tides and two low tides every day!
• The sun also plays a role—when the sun and moon align, we get extra-high spring tides. When they are at right angles, we get lower neap tides.
• Some places have dramatic tides, like Broome, WA, where the ocean rises over 10 meters!
Fun Fact: The word “tide” comes from an old English word meaning “time” because people used to tell time by the ocean’s movements!
Ready to Play?
Bring the science of tides to life with a simple at-home activity!
Tide in a Bowl
What you need:
A large shallow bowl of water
A small ball (like a pong ball) to represent the moon
Your hands!
What to do:
Gently push the ball in a circle around the bowl’s edge—this represents the moon’s gravity.
Watch how the water moves toward the ball, just like the ocean is pulled toward the moon.
Try blowing on the water (like wind!) to see how tides and currents work together.
Now who’s up for a little water play? Scoop and splash until your heart’s content!
Ready to Explore?
Local Adventure:
This week, check out the tide times and visit the beach at different points in the day to see the tide in action!
Where to go: Try visiting Shelly Beach at low tide to look for rock pools, then return at high tide to see the difference. Check out the ocean pool too! Can you see lots of sand? Or is the ocean pool almost completely underwater?!
Moon Watch: Saturday night marks a New Moon! That means the moon will disappear! Well, not really. But it does mean that the moon is between the Earth and the Sun, so we can’t see it in the sky.
Even though we can’t see the moon, it’s still working its magic on the ocean. A New Moon makes tides extra high and extra low because the moon and the sun are both pulling the ocean together! This is called a Spring Tide!
This Saturday, the tide will be at its highest 9AM and and lowest about 3pm. Need to refuel with a tasty lunch in between?
Local Stop: The Nuns’ Pool is steps away! Crush that sweet spot with some Waffles and Strawberries off the All Day Kids Menu or try their delicious Crumbled Chicken Strips. Incredible options for Mum and Dad too- with a European and Mediterranean inspired menu that will keep you coming back!
If you do go on a Curious Kids adventure, don’t forget to tag us @sweetsensoryplay