Final answer:
Spring tides produce higher tides when the Sun and Moon are aligned with Earth, either during new or full moons, creating the greatest tidal bulges. Neap tides result in lower high tides when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other. The magnitude of these tides also varies with Earth and Moon's relative distances. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tidal variation that produces higher tides is known as spring tides. These occur when the gravitational pulls of the Sun and Moon are combined, as they are aligned either on the same side of Earth (during a new moon) or on opposite sides (during a full moon). Spring tides result in higher high tides and lower low tides compared to other times.
In contrast, neap tides happen when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other, causing their gravitational forces to partially cancel out, leading to less extreme high and low tides.
Moreover, the magnitude of these tides can be affected by the distances between the Earth, Moon, and Sun. If the spring tide coincides with the Moon being at its closest approach to Earth (perigee) and Earth at its closest to the Sun (perihelion), the tides are especially high. Conversely, the tides are smaller if the Moon is at its furthest from Earth (apogee) and Earth is at its furthest from the Sun (aphelion).