What is a Neap Tide?

1 Answer
Jan 26, 2018

Neap tides are the tides with the least difference between the high and low tides.
They are the two lowest high tides of the month.

Explanation:

Tides are caused by gravitational attraction from the moon and from the sun.

When the sun and moon are both pulling in the same direction, the tides get higher than usual.

But when the sun and moon are pulling at right  angles to each other, the tides don't get as high as usual.

When the gravitational pull of the sun and moon are working together, it causes an unusually high tide called a spring tide.

When the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon are pulling at right angles to each other, it causes an unusually low high tide called a neap tide.

Here is a diagram showing how gravitational pull causes
spring tides and neap tides:

enter image source here
http://www.millerslocal.co.za/the-inside-skinny-on-tides.html