EVERYDAY SCIENCE

SCIENCE

EARTH SCIENCE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
How does a straight alignment between Earth, the sun, and moon impact the tides on Earth?
A
It produces the greatest change in high and low tides.
B
It produces the least change in high and low tides.
C
It produces semidiurnal tides.
D
It produces diurnal tides.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -When the sun, moon, and Earth are in alignment (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides, and very low, low tides-both commonly called spring tides .

Detailed explanation-2: -When the sun and the moon are aligned, or nearly aligned, their gravitational gradient fields add together constructively, leading to extra strong tides (high tide is extra high and low tide is extra low). This alignment happens when the moon is a new moon or a full moon, which occurs about every two weeks.

Detailed explanation-3: -The greatest difference between high and low tide is around New Moon and Full Moon. During these Moon phases, the solar tide coincides with the lunar tide because the Sun and the Moon are aligned with Earth, and their gravitational forces combine to pull the ocean’s water in the same direction.

Detailed explanation-4: -They are caused by the gravitational forces exerted on the earth by the moon, and to a lesser extent, the sun. When the highest point in the wave, or the crest, reaches a coast, the coast experiences a high tide. When the lowest point, or the trough, reaches a coast, the coast experiences a low tide.

Detailed explanation-5: -This produces moderate tides known as neap tides, meaning that high tides are a little lower and low tides are a little higher than average. Neap tides occur during the first and third quarter moon, when the moon appears “half full."

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