Q6 (NDA-I/2019) Geography › World Physical Geography › Ocean circulation systems Answer Verified

Spring tides refer to

greatest difference in the sea level at high and low tides

lowest difference in the sea level at high and low tides

no difference in the sea level at high and low tides

counteraction of gravitational pull of the Sun to that of moon

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: A

Explanation

Spring tides occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in a straight line (syzygy), which happens during the full moon and new moon phases [3]. During this alignment, the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon combine to reinforce each other [1]. This additive effect results in higher-than-average high tides and lower-than-average low tides [1]. Consequently, spring tides are characterized by the greatest tidal range, which is the maximum vertical difference between the sea level at high and low tides [1]. In contrast, neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles, causing their gravitational pulls to partially counteract each other, leading to the smallest tidal range [2]. Therefore, spring tides represent the period of the greatest difference in sea levels between high and low tide cycles.

Sources

[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
[3] https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/cause-effect-tides/
[2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 32: Ocean Movements Ocean Currents And Tides > Neap Tides > p. 504

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Spring tides refer to

Explanation

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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.

The tides whose height is 20 percent more than normal tide are called

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 :

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

Tidal range denotes the :