Question

Students were studying the effects of moon positions on tides. When neap tides occur, the difference between the high tide level and the low tide level is at its smallest for tidal cycle?

Answer 1

Neap tides, which are the weakest tides with the smallest range between high and low levels, occur during the quarter moon phases when the Sun and Moon's gravitational pulls are at right angles. In contrast, the spring tides, with the greatest tidal range, occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during the new and full moons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Neap tides occur when the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon are at right angles relative to the Earth, which happens during the quarter phases of the moon. At this time, the sun's pull is perpendicular to the moon's, leading to a moderate difference between high and low tides known as neap tides.

In contrast, spring tides, which feature the greatest difference between high and low tides, occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during new and full moons.

Understanding Tides

Tides are influenced by the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. The Sun, while having roughly half the effect on tides compared to the Moon, plays a significant role in the tidal range. The tidal forces cause bulges on both sides of the Earth, and their interaction results in the varying tides experienced on Earth.