Question

The moon is a major influence on the Earth’s tides, but the Sun also generates considerable tidal forces. Solar tides are about half as large as lunar tides and are expressed as a variation of lunar tidal patterns, not as a separate set of tides. For the purposes of our study, let us consider just the Earth-Sun system. At what point (if any) on the Earth's orbit around the Sun do you think that the tidal ranges will be enhanced?

• A. At the Aphelion.
• B. At the Perihelion.
• C. Exactly at the centre of the Aphelion and Perihelion.
• D. It is the same at any point on the Earth orbit.

Answer 1

The correct option is B At the Perihelion.

In the Earth-Sun system, when the Earth is closest to the Sun, i.e., at the Perihelion, about January 2 of each year, the tidal ranges will be enhanced, and when the Earth is farthest from the Sun, i.e., at the Aphelion, around July 2, the tidal ranges will be reduced.