Which type of planetary alignment would you expect to show the HIGHEST tidal range?

Question

A. Sun, moon and Earth aligned with the Sun and Moon on opposite sides of Earth.

B. Sun, moon and Earth aligned with the Sun and Moon on the same side.

C. Sun, moon, and Earth form a right angle (for example, are ninety degrees apart).

Answer 1

Hi. B, with qualifications. The tides are higher when 1) the Moon is closest to Earth, 2) at the correct angle to pull with the greatest force (right overhead), and 3) when Earth is at the closest to the Sun. These do not happen concurrently very often. There would have to be a total eclipse at noon, at the ocean, on the equator, during an equinox.

Answer 2

Probably B since if the sun and moon were aligned on opposite sides, although that would create a higher tide then normal, the sun would pull the earth slightly away from the moon reducing the moon's gravitational pull on the earth by a tiny amount.

Answer 3

B, because the gravitational forces are all positive in the same direction, and so will exert the maximum force. As the Earth turns, the side with the sun and moon will have the maximum amount of water drawn to it, while the opposite side will have the lowest. The result is extremely high and low tides.