Question

Which of the following occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment (i.e., in opposition or conjunction)?

a) Minimum tidal ranges occur.
b) The tidal range is the same as for other alignments of celestial bodies.
c) Maximum tidal ranges occur.
d) Neap tides occur.
e) A lower tidal range occurs.

Answer 1

Maximum tidal ranges occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment, resulting in spring tides and higher high tides and lower low tides. Neap tides occur when the Sun is at a 90° angle to the Earth-Moon alignment, resulting in smaller tidal ranges.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is c) Maximum tidal ranges occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment (opposition or conjunction). This alignment is known as a spring tide, and it results in the highest tidal ranges. During a spring tide, the gravitational pull of both the Sun and the Moon reinforce each other, causing stronger gravitational forces on the Earth's oceans. As a result, the tidal bulges are more pronounced, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides.

On the other hand, neap tides occur when the Sun lies at a 90° angle to the Earth-Moon alignment. During neap tides, the gravitational pulls of the Sun and the Moon partially cancel each other out, resulting in weaker gravitational forces on the Earth's oceans. This leads to smaller tidal ranges with lower high tides and higher low tides.