Neap tides and moon phases — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2001

Consider the following statements:

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

Options:

1. Both A and R are individually true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are individually true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Assertion (A) is correct because during Neap Tide, the difference between high tide and low tide is minimum. Hence, the high tides are lower and the low tides are higher than normal. Reason (R) is incorrect because neap tides occur during the first and third quarter phases of the Moon, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon form a right angle. In contrast, Spring Tide occurs during both the New Moon and Full Moon phases, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned.

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false