Here's why:
* Gravitational Pull: The Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth's water, creating bulges on the side of the Earth closest to the Moon and the opposite side. This is what causes tides.
* Sun's Influence: The Sun also exerts a gravitational pull on Earth's water, though it's weaker than the Moon's due to its greater distance.
* Alignment: When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during the new moon and full moon phases, their gravitational forces combine to create a stronger pull on the water, resulting in spring tides. These are the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.
In contrast, during the first and last quarter moons, the Moon and Sun are at right angles to each other. This reduces the combined gravitational pull, leading to neap tides, which have lower high tides and higher low tides than spring tides.
