How do the different types of tides form and what causes them?

Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational interaction between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. There are different types of tides based on the position of the Moon and Sun relative to the Earth. The two main types of tides are spring tides and neap tides.

Spring tides occur when the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are in alignment, causing the highest high tides and the lowest low tides. Spring tides occur during full and new moons.

Neap tides occur when the Sun and the Moon are at right angles to each other, causing the lowest high tides and the highest low tides. Neap tides occur during the first and third quarter moons.

The gravitational force of the Moon has the biggest effect on tides, as it is closer to the Earth than the Sun. When the Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth's water, it creates a bulge of water on the side of the Earth facing the Moon, and another bulge on the opposite side of the Earth. The bulges create the high tides, while the areas between them experience low tides.

The Sun also affects tides, but to a lesser extent than the Moon, as it is much farther away. When the Sun and the Moon are aligned, their combined gravitational force results in higher high tides and lower low tides, creating spring tides. When the Sun and the Moon are perpendicular to each other, their gravitational forces partially cancel out, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides, creating neap tides.