Final answer:
The strongest tides near the equator are caused by the significant centrifugal force from Earth's rotation, not due to the Earth's gravity being weakest or the centripetal force being strongest. It is the differential gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun, along with the Earth's centrifugal force, that shape the tidal bulges. The correct answer is option c. and d.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tides are strongest near the equator, but not because that is where the Earth's gravity is weakest or the centripetal force is strongest. Instead, the correct answer is that the tides are strongest near the equator because this is where the centrifugal force due to the Earth's rotation is strongest. The centrifugal force, which is the outward force experienced by objects moving in a circular path, counteracts the gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth's waters, and together with the gravitational forces from the Moon and the Sun, it contributes to the formation of the tidal bulges on Earth's oceans.
Tidal forces are a result of the differential gravitational pull exerted by the Moon (and to a lesser extent, the Sun) on different parts of the Earth. On the side of Earth facing the Moon, the gravitational pull is stronger, resulting in a higher tide. On the side opposite the Moon, Earth itself is pulled slightly toward the Moon, while the water is less affected, also resulting in a high tide. These tidal bulges are aligned with the Moon as the Earth rotates, leading to two high tides each day.