Final answer:
During a new moon, the net gravitational force exerted on the moon is at maximum because the gravitational forces of the sun and Earth are aligned and additive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The magnitude of the net gravitational force exerted on the moon during the new moon alignment would be option (A) Maximum force. During a new moon, the sun and Earth align with the moon in nearly a straight line, with Earth located between the sun and the moon.
This configuration can lead to syzygy, where the sum of the gravitational forces of the sun and Earth on the moon is maximized since the forces are additive because of their alignment. The phenomenon contributes to spring tides because of the increased gravitational pull on the moon and Earth's oceans.
The net gravitational force exerted on the moon during the new moon alignment is zero (C). During a new moon, the moon is located between the Earth and the Sun, and the gravitational forces from both cancel each other out.