Final answer:
A spring tide occurs when the sun and moon's gravitational forces pull in the same direction, leading to larger tides.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the gravity of the sun and moon pull Earth's surface in the same direction, a spring tide occurs. During the spring tide, the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun combine to produce the highest and lowest tides, which reinforce each other, causing more significant movement of the Earth's oceans. On the other hand, a neap tide occurs when the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon are at right angles to one another, leading to the smallest variations in high and low tides. These tidal effects occur because the tidal forces cause bulges on both sides of the Earth.