🔍 Key Concepts
• Relationship between Sun, Moon, and Earth and how their alignment affects tides
• Difference between spring tides (largest tidal range) and neap tides (smallest tidal range)
• How the Moon’s phase (new, full, first quarter, third quarter) relates to gravitational pull on the oceans
💭 Think About
• Which Moon phases line up the Sun, Earth, and Moon in (almost) a straight line, so their gravitational pulls combine?
• Which Moon phases put the Sun and Moon roughly at right angles from the Earth, partially canceling their tidal effects?
• Think about when we get the greatest tidal range (highest highs and lowest lows): during alignment or at right angles?
✅ Before You Answer
• Identify which choice(s) describe the Sun, Earth, and Moon being in a near straight-line alignment (syzygy).
• Identify which choice(s) describe the Sun and Moon being at right angles (quadrature), which is linked to neap tides, not spring tides.
• Match the correct Moon phase(s) (new, full, first quarter, third quarter) to those geometric relationships.