Spring & Neap Tides

Teamwork in the sky

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Spring tides: Sun and Moon aligned (new and full moon). Neap tides: at right angles.
• Spring tides are roughly 2.7 times the range of neap tides in this simple model.
• Tides come about 50 minutes later each day.

Steps

1. Lining up
2. High versus low range
3. The weakest tides
4. Later every day
5. Spring tides in a year
6. Equinox tides