The moon's gravity pulls on Earth's water. This causes a high tide on the side of Earth closest to the moon and the opposite side. Also, during a spring tide, the high tides are higher and the low tides are lower. A spring tide happens during a full or new moon. A neap tide is the exact opposite of a spring tide. During a neap tide, the high tides are lower and the low tides are higher this happens during a third or first quarter moon.