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Q51 (NDA-I/2011) Geography › World Physical Geography › Ocean circulation systems Answer Verified

The exceptionally high and low tides that occur at the time of the new moon or the full moon when the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are approximately aligned is called :

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

The phenomenon described is known as a spring tide. These tides occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are approximately aligned in a straight line, a configuration known as syzygy [1][t1]. This alignment happens twice a month during the full moon and new moon phases [1][t4]. During these periods, the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon reinforce each other, resulting in a maximum tidal range characterized by exceptionally high high tides and low low tides [t1][t3]. In contrast, neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other, causing their gravitational pulls to counteract one another and resulting in a smaller tidal range [c2][t4]. Diurnal tides refer to a frequency of one high and one low tide per day rather than the magnitude of the range [t2].

Sources

  1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 13: Movements of Ocean Water > Tides based on the Sun, Moon and the Earth Positions > p. 110
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2001 · Q32 Relevance score: 5.57

Assertion (A) : During the Neap Tides, the high tide is lower and the low tide is higher than usual. Reason (R) : The Neap Tide, unlike the Spring Tide, occurs on the New Moon instead of on the Full Moon.

CDS-II · 2009 · Q23 Relevance score: 5.44

High spring tides occur at new moon and full moon because the

CDS-I · 2013 · Q79 Relevance score: 4.11

The highest of all spring tides occurs at the time of—

NDA-I · 2019 · Q6 Relevance score: 0.30

Spring tides refer to

CAPF · 2025 · Q77 Relevance score: 0.17

Consider the following statements with reference to neap tides: 1. Normally, there is a seven-day interval between two neap tides. 2. At this time, the Sun and the Moon are at right angles to each other. 3. The Moon's attraction is diminished by the counteracting force of the Sun's gravitational pull. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?