Tides, Waves & Currents · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Tides, Waves & Currents

Science · Ocean Life · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A breeze blows across the sea and small waves ripple the surface. What is making those waves?

    • The Moon's pull
    • The wind
    • Warm currents

  2. What causes the tides to rise and fall?

    • The Moon's gravity
    • The wind blowing
    • Ocean currents

  3. Ocean currents are like rivers of water flowing through the ocean.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which of these best describes an ocean current?

    • A wave crashing on the beach
    • The rise and fall of water at the shore
    • Water flowing like a river

  5. The chart shows water height on a tide pole at one shore through one day. How many times does the water reach its highest point?

    Morning2Noon8Evening2Night8

    Answer: ______________

  6. On a windy day at the beach, Theo sees the water rising into ridges that roll toward shore. What is causing this?

    • Wind blowing across the surface
    • The Moon's gravity
    • A warm current

  7. A current carries warm water from the sunny equator toward a cold, icy sea. What is it doing to the heat it carries?

    • Making the tide rise there
    • Making the icy sea colder
    • Moving heat to the colder sea

  8. Nora says the tide changes because of strong winds pushing the water around. What is wrong with her idea?

    • Tides do not actually rise or fall
    • Tides come mainly from the Moon
    • Nothing, she is right
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Tides, Waves & Currents W1-mt_kCSy3Lsgme-s1

  1. The wind · Wind blows across the water's surface and pushes it into waves.
  2. The Moon's gravity · Tides happen because the Moon's gravity gently pulls on the ocean water, making it rise and fall.
  3. True · Currents flow through the ocean like rivers, carrying warmth and nutrients as they go.
  4. Water flowing like a river · A current is water flowing through the ocean, much like a river flows across land.
  5. 2 · The chart shows two high points, since tides rise and fall about twice a day.
  6. Wind blowing across the surface · Wind blowing over the water pushes it into waves, even on a sunny beach.
  7. Moving heat to the colder sea · The current carries heat away from the warm equator and releases it in the colder sea.
  8. Tides come mainly from the Moon · Tides come mainly from the Moon's gravity, with a smaller pull from the Sun.
Worksheet · LightMySky