Tides: Statement I says that tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and by the rotation of the Earth, and Statement II says that the Earth rotates from west to east. What is the correct relationship between these statements?

Introduction / Context:
This question explores the causes of ocean tides and the rotation of the Earth using an assertion and reason format. The learner must decide if each statement is correct and whether the second statement logically explains the first. Tides are a fundamental part of physical geography and oceanography, while the direction of Earth rotation is a basic fact of astronomy and Earth science.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Statement I: Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth.
• Statement II: The Earth rotates from west to east.
• We consider standard definitions of tides and accepted information about Earth rotation.

Concept / Approach:
Tides mainly result from the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on the Earth oceans and from the centrifugal force associated with the Earth Moon system. The rotation of the Earth influences the timing and distribution of tides but is not the primary cause in the same sense as gravity. The direction of rotation, west to east, is a correct fact but does not directly explain why tides rise and fall. The approach is to separate correctness of facts from explanatory relationships.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Check Statement I. Tides do arise from gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun, and the rotating Earth influences how tidal bulges move relative to coastlines, so Statement I is substantially correct in describing the combined effects. Step 2: Check Statement II. It is a basic astronomical fact that the Earth rotates from west to east, which causes the apparent daily motion of the Sun from east to west in the sky, so Statement II is true. Step 3: Evaluate the explanatory link. While Earth rotation affects when a particular location faces a tidal bulge, the specific fact that the rotation is from west to east is not the key explanatory detail for the rise and fall of sea levels described in Statement I. Step 4: The main explanation for tides lies in gravitational attraction and the resulting tidal bulges, not in the simple statement of rotation direction. Step 5: Therefore, both statements are true, but Statement II does not serve as the correct explanation of Statement I.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that tide producing forces are primarily calculated using gravitational equations involving the masses of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, and the distances between them. These calculations do not depend directly on whether the Earth rotates eastward or westward, even though rotation affects local timing of tides. If the Earth could hypothetically rotate in the opposite direction, tides would still be generated by gravity. This shows that Statement II, while true, is not the cause or explanation for the existence of tides as described in Statement I.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Both true and Statement II explains Statement I: Incorrect because the direction of rotation does not explain the fundamental origin of tides.
• Statement I true, Statement II false: Statement II is a well known fact, so this combination is wrong.
• Statement I false, Statement II true: Statement I correctly attributes tides to gravitational forces and Earth rotation, so it is not false.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes think that any true fact given as a second statement must automatically be the explanation of the first, which is not the case in assertion reason questions. Another common mistake is to overemphasise Earth rotation and underemphasise gravity in understanding tides. Remember that gravity from the Moon and the Sun is the primary cause of tidal bulges, while Earth rotation influences how these bulges move relative to coastlines but does not serve as the core explanatory factor being tested here.

Final Answer:
Both statements are individually true, but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I.