Final answer:
Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other, creating a situation where their gravitational pulls partially cancel out. the correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Neap tides happen when the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun are perpendicular to each other, resulting in the least difference between high and low tides. In this scenario, the moon is at a right angle to the line formed by the Earth and the Sun. Option C correctly represents this arrangement, where the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, forming a right angle.
In the case of neap tides, the sun is at a right angle to the moon as observed from Earth. The gravitational pull of the sun partially cancels out the gravitational pull of the moon. This results in weaker tides with lower high tides and higher low tides.
Neap tides occur due to the gravitational interactions of the sun and the moon, causing a lesser variation in tidal heights. Option C accurately illustrates the configuration during neap tides, making it the correct choice.