Which statement describes the alignment during a spring tide?

• A. The Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned in a straight line.
• B. The Moon is at right angles to the Earth-Sun line.
• C. The Sun is between the Earth and Moon.
• D. The Moon is behind the Sun.

Answer: (A)

Spring tides happen when the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up in a straight line, so their gravity pulls in the same direction on Earth's oceans. That alignment makes the gravitational effects reinforce each other, producing higher high tides and lower low tides. It occurs during new Moon and full Moon phases, when the Moon is either between the Earth and Sun or opposite the Sun. When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to the Earth, their pulls partially cancel, giving weaker tides known as neap tides.