Q1. 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.
Reason (R): The neap tide, unlike the spring tide, occurs on the new moon instead of on the full moon.
Explanation
Assertion (A) is true: Neap tides occur when the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun are perpendicular to each other (i.e., during the first and third quarters of the lunar cycle). Since the Sun’s gravitational force partially cancels out the Moon’s gravitational effect, the difference between high tide and low tide is minimal. As a result, the high tide is lower than normal, and the low tide is higher than normal. Reason (R) is false: Neap tides occur during the first and third quarter phases of the Moon, not during the new moon. Spring tides, on the other hand, occur during the full moon and new moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned, causing a higher-than-normal tidal range.