How Does a Tsunami Differ from a Tidal Wave?

Tsunamis and tidal waves feel different because of where they come from. A tsunami is like a big, fast wave caused by something shaking the ocean, like an earthquake under the sea. A tidal wave is more like a regular wave that comes in slowly with the tide. Imagine if you shook a bathtub full of water really hard, that's like a tsunami! If you just let the water rise and fall gently, that’s a tidal wave.

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Examples

  1. A tsunami is like shaking a bathtub full of water, it creates big, fast waves!
  2. A tidal wave is like the gentle rise and fall of water at the beach.
  3. Imagine throwing a rock into a pond, that’s a small tsunami!

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