Question

How are spring and neap tides formed?

Answer 1

Hint: Depending on the location of the sun and moon with regard to the earth, the height of rising water (high tide) varies greatly. This group covers spring tides and neap tides.

Complete Answer:
Tides based on the sun, Moon and the Earth positions.
Spring Tides: The position of both the sun and the moon relative to the earth is directly related to the height of the tide.
- The height of the tide will be higher when the sun, the moon and the earth are in a straight line.
- These are called spring tides and occur twice a month, one during the period of the full moon and the other during the period of the new moon.

Neap Tides: Usually, between the spring tides and neap tides, there is a seven day interval.
- The sun and moon are at right angles to one another at this time, and the forces of the sun and moon tend to counteract each other.
- The attraction of the Moon, though more than twice as powerful as the sun's, is diminished by the gravitational pull of the sun's counteracting force.
- These tides also occur twice a month, just like spring tides.

Note: Every year around January 3rd, when the Planet is closest to the Sun (perihelion), tidal ranges are also much larger, with exceptionally high and unusually low tides. Tidal ranges are much smaller than average when the earth is farthest from the sun (aphelion), around 4 July per year.