Each of these special tides occurs _____ a month. They are caused by the _____ of the Sun and the gravity of the moon working together.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to fill in the blanks related to the frequency of spring and neap tides and the influencing factors of these tides. Specifically, it seeks the number of occurrences per month, as well as the influence of the sun's position and the moon's gravity.
Answer
twice, alignment
The final answer is: 'twice' and 'alignment'.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is: 'twice' and 'alignment'.
More Information
Spring and neap tides each occur twice monthly. Spring tides occur during new and full moons when the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned, enhancing gravitational pull.
Tips
Confusing spring and neap tides, or how often they occur, is common. Remember that spring tides happen when celestial bodies align.
Sources
- What are spring and neap tides? - National Ocean Service - oceanservice.noaa.gov
- Tides - NASA Science - science.nasa.gov
- Tides, and the pull of the moon and sun - EarthSky - earthsky.org