What describes a neap tide?

A neap tide is characterized by the smallest difference between high and low tides. This phenomenon occurs when the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun are perpendicular to each other relative to the Earth, typically during the first and third quarters of the lunar cycle. During these times, the sun's pull partially cancels out the moon's pull on the Earth's oceans, leading to lower high tides and higher low tides, which results in a diminished range of tidal variation. Understanding this concept is important in the study of tides as it highlights the influence of both the moon and sun on Earth’s oceanic tides.