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Q23 (CDS-II/2009) Geography › World Physical Geography › Ocean circulation systems Answer Verified

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

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: C
Explanation

High spring tides occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned in a straight line, a configuration known as syzygy [1][t1][t5]. This alignment happens twice a month during the new moon and full moon phases [c1][t3]. During these periods, the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon act along a common line, reinforcing each other to exert a combined pull on the Earth's oceans [t4][t5][t8]. This results in the maximum tidal range, characterized by higher-than-normal high tides and lower-than-normal low tides [t3][t6]. In contrast, neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other relative to the Earth, causing their gravitational forces to partially counteract one another and resulting in a smaller tidal range [c2][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

NDA-I · 2011 · Q51 Relevance score: 6.69

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 :

CDS-I · 2013 · Q79 Relevance score: 5.80

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

IAS · 2001 · Q32 Relevance score: 5.12

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.

CAPF · 2025 · Q77 Relevance score: 2.21

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?

NDA-I · 2019 · Q6 Relevance score: 1.52

Spring tides refer to