Final answer:
The moon is primarily responsible for ocean tides due to its closer proximity to Earth, creating more pronounced tidal effects than the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The entity most responsible for ocean tides is the moon. The moon exerts a differential gravitational force on Earth's oceans, creating two tidal bulges on opposite sides of the planet. As Earth rotates, it passes through these bulges, resulting in the familiar high and low tides experienced along coastlines. Despite the Sun's gravitational force on Earth being stronger overall, it is the Moon's proximity to Earth that makes its tidal effects more pronounced. When the Sun and Moon's gravitational forces align during new and full moons, we experience larger spring tides. Conversely, during quarter moon phases when the Sun and Moon are perpendicular to each other, we observe smaller neap tides.