The diagram below shows the moon as seen from Earth and from above the North Pole throughout the month of October, 2001. On the right side of the animation, sunlight illuminates Earth and the moon from the left.

  !   Click the image below to start the animation. Click and drag the slider to view specific frames of the movie.

1. What is the phase of the moon on October 17, 2001? On October 24?

Consider the locations of the sun and moon with respect to Earth on each date, and speculate as to how their alignment and gravitational forces might affect tides on Earth.

2. Predict the effect the moon's phase had on the level of the high tide and the low tide on October 17. Explain your reasoning.

3. Predict the effect the moon's phase had on the level of the high tide and the low tide on October 24. Explain your reasoning.