Question

What are the benefits of assuming that tides are very long waves (recall the earlier classification of waves by period and that tides were the two 'spikes' on the figure are near 12 hrs. and 24 hrs)?

Answer 1

Assuming tides are very long waves aids in understanding their periodic nature, caused by Earth's rotation and the Moon's gravitational pull, leading to regular intervals of high and low tides every 12.5 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of treating tides as very long waves is beneficial for understanding the observed patterns of tides across Earth’s surfaces. These waves occur due to the gravitational pull principally from the Moon, and also the Sun, on the Earth’s oceans. Tides experienced on Earth as very long-periodic waves create two high tides and two low tides approximately every 12.5 hours, due to the Earth's rotation and the Moon’s orbit around the Earth.

By assuming tides to be very long waves, it allows us to apply wave concepts to predict and understand the rise and fall of sea levels. This is crucial for navigation, coastal management, and marine life patterns. Despite this simplified model, several factors complicate the real-world observations of tides such as land masses, ocean floor friction, and ocean depth variability, necessitating specific tide tables for different locations.