Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) PracticeTest

What phenomenon causes large ride and fall of the tide at or soon after the new or full moon?

1. Spring tide

2. Neap tide

3. Ebb tide

4. High tide

The correct answer is: Spring tide

The phenomenon that causes large rises and falls of the tide at or soon after the new or full moon is known as a spring tide. During these lunar phases, the sun, moon, and Earth align, resulting in the gravitational forces exerted by both the sun and the moon combining to create a significantly greater effect on the Earth's oceans. This alignment allows for the maximum difference between high and low tides, leading to the pronounced tidal fluctuations characteristic of spring tides. In contrast, neap tides occur when the moon is in its first or third quarter phase, resulting in lower tidal ranges because the gravitational forces of the moon and sun partially counteract each other. Ebb tide refers to the period of decreasing water level after a high tide, while high tide simply describes the state of the water when it is at its highest point. Therefore, the phenomena related to spring tides directly result in the significant tidal variations experienced during the new and full moons.