Oceanography Chapter 5a - Ocean Tides, Waves, and Currents Exam
Questions and Answers With complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest
Questions 2025-2026
What are the three major categories of ocean movements? - Tides, waves, and
currents.
What phenomenon can cause waves with a crest much higher than usual? - Rogue
waves.
What was the name of the cargo carrier that was reportedly sunk by rogue waves in
1978? - MS Munchen.
Why did ancient seafaring people keep track of tidal changes? - To control the
movement of ships into and out of harbors and river inlets.
What is the significance of high tide for ship captains? - Captains prefer to enter or
leave port near high tide to avoid grounding on reefs or sandbars.
Who applied the law of gravitation to the tides, leading to systematic prediction
methods? - Sir Isaac Newton.
What is the Bay of Fundy known for? - It has the highest tides in the world, rising and
falling almost 53 feet (16 meters) twice a day.
What is the estimated amount of saltwater that moves in and out of the Bay of Fundy? -
Around 254 billion tons.
What are the major tide-causing forces? - The gravitational effects of the moon and the
sun.
How did predictions of tidal motion evolve by the 13th century? - They were based on
repeated observations of the rise and fall of the ocean related to the phases of the
moon.
What can happen if tidal currents are not heeded by modern vessels? - They can cause
disasters due to their powerful force.
What is the role of tide tables for coastal nations? - They are critical for sea-borne
commerce, military actions, salvage, dredging, and related activities.
What is the effect of gravity on bodies in relation to tidal forces? - Bodies cannot feel
their gravitational pulls because they are very small compared to the gravitational pull of
the Earth.
, What is the term for the powerful ocean movements that people have been fascinated
by throughout history? - Tides, waves, and currents.
What is a gyre in oceanography? - A large system of circulating ocean currents.
What is the significance of the term 'quadrature' in relation to tides? - It refers to the
position of the moon when it is at a right angle to the sun, affecting tidal forces.
What does 'syzygy' refer to in the context of tides? - The alignment of the Earth, moon,
and sun, which can enhance tidal effects.
What is centripetal acceleration in relation to ocean currents? - It is the acceleration
directed towards the center of a circular path, influencing the movement of water in
currents.
What is the term for the upward motion of water due to wind and other forces? - Swell.
What is 'drag' in the context of ocean currents? - The resistance experienced by objects
moving through water.
What is convection in oceanography? - The transfer of heat through the movement of
fluids, affecting ocean currents.
What role does hydraulics play in oceanography? - It studies the behavior of water in
motion, including currents and tides.
What is a crest in the context of waves? - The highest point of a wave.
What primarily causes tides in the ocean? - The gravitational pull of the moon and the
sun.
How does the distance between two masses affect gravitational force? - The farther
apart the masses are, the lower the gravitational force between them.
Why does the moon exert a greater gravitational force on Earth than the sun? -
Because the moon is much closer to the Earth than the sun.
What is the effect of the moon's gravitational pull on the water on Earth? - It causes the
water to bulge out on the side of the Earth closest to the moon, creating higher water
levels.
What happens to the center of mass of the Earth-moon system when the moon is
added? - The center of mass moves toward the side of the Earth closest to the moon.
Questions and Answers With complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest
Questions 2025-2026
What are the three major categories of ocean movements? - Tides, waves, and
currents.
What phenomenon can cause waves with a crest much higher than usual? - Rogue
waves.
What was the name of the cargo carrier that was reportedly sunk by rogue waves in
1978? - MS Munchen.
Why did ancient seafaring people keep track of tidal changes? - To control the
movement of ships into and out of harbors and river inlets.
What is the significance of high tide for ship captains? - Captains prefer to enter or
leave port near high tide to avoid grounding on reefs or sandbars.
Who applied the law of gravitation to the tides, leading to systematic prediction
methods? - Sir Isaac Newton.
What is the Bay of Fundy known for? - It has the highest tides in the world, rising and
falling almost 53 feet (16 meters) twice a day.
What is the estimated amount of saltwater that moves in and out of the Bay of Fundy? -
Around 254 billion tons.
What are the major tide-causing forces? - The gravitational effects of the moon and the
sun.
How did predictions of tidal motion evolve by the 13th century? - They were based on
repeated observations of the rise and fall of the ocean related to the phases of the
moon.
What can happen if tidal currents are not heeded by modern vessels? - They can cause
disasters due to their powerful force.
What is the role of tide tables for coastal nations? - They are critical for sea-borne
commerce, military actions, salvage, dredging, and related activities.
What is the effect of gravity on bodies in relation to tidal forces? - Bodies cannot feel
their gravitational pulls because they are very small compared to the gravitational pull of
the Earth.
, What is the term for the powerful ocean movements that people have been fascinated
by throughout history? - Tides, waves, and currents.
What is a gyre in oceanography? - A large system of circulating ocean currents.
What is the significance of the term 'quadrature' in relation to tides? - It refers to the
position of the moon when it is at a right angle to the sun, affecting tidal forces.
What does 'syzygy' refer to in the context of tides? - The alignment of the Earth, moon,
and sun, which can enhance tidal effects.
What is centripetal acceleration in relation to ocean currents? - It is the acceleration
directed towards the center of a circular path, influencing the movement of water in
currents.
What is the term for the upward motion of water due to wind and other forces? - Swell.
What is 'drag' in the context of ocean currents? - The resistance experienced by objects
moving through water.
What is convection in oceanography? - The transfer of heat through the movement of
fluids, affecting ocean currents.
What role does hydraulics play in oceanography? - It studies the behavior of water in
motion, including currents and tides.
What is a crest in the context of waves? - The highest point of a wave.
What primarily causes tides in the ocean? - The gravitational pull of the moon and the
sun.
How does the distance between two masses affect gravitational force? - The farther
apart the masses are, the lower the gravitational force between them.
Why does the moon exert a greater gravitational force on Earth than the sun? -
Because the moon is much closer to the Earth than the sun.
What is the effect of the moon's gravitational pull on the water on Earth? - It causes the
water to bulge out on the side of the Earth closest to the moon, creating higher water
levels.
What happens to the center of mass of the Earth-moon system when the moon is
added? - The center of mass moves toward the side of the Earth closest to the moon.
