Which statement best describes the difference between a spring tide and a neap tide?

• A. Spring tides are caused by the gravitational pull of only the $\mathrm{Moon}$, while neap tides are caused by the gravitational pull of only the $\mathrm{Sun}$.
• B. Spring tides happen during the winter months, while neap tides occur during the summer months.
• C. Spring tides occur when the $\mathrm{Sun}$, $\mathrm{Moon}$, and $\mathrm{Earth}$ are aligned, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides, while neap tides occur when the $\mathrm{Sun}$ and $\mathrm{Moon}$ are at right angles to each other, causing less extreme tides.
• D. Spring tides occur twice a year, while neap tides occur once a year.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that tides on Earth are primarily caused by the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun on Earth's oceans.
2. Recognize that a spring tide occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned in a straight line (during full moon and new moon phases). This alignment causes the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon to combine, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides, which means more extreme tidal ranges.
3. Know that a neap tide occurs when the Sun and Moon are at right angles relative to the Earth (during the first and third quarter moon phases). This causes the gravitational forces to partially cancel each other out, leading to less extreme tides with lower high tides and higher low tides.
4. Note that spring tides and neap tides are not related to specific seasons but to the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, and they occur approximately twice each lunar month.
5. Summarize that the key difference is the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth: spring tides happen during alignment causing extreme tides, while neap tides happen during perpendicular positioning causing moderate tides.