When water waves travel, the water particles ___?
1. move with the wave and energy is not propagated
2. vibrate in the direction of wave motion and only energy is propagated
3. move with the wave and energy is propagated
4. vibrate perpendicular to the wave motion, and only energy is propagated
Well, I guess number 4 is what they want but none are correct.
In a deep water wave (water depth greater than half wavelength) the particles go around in a circle in place, up on the wave front, forward on the crest, down on the back , back in the trough for a net displacement of zero. That is sort of a vibration. As the wave enters shallow water the motion becomes more elliptical and eventually is just back and forth. Meanwhile the wave is slowed down so gets shorter and steeper.
When water waves travel, the water particles do not simply move with the wave or vibrate in the direction of wave motion. Instead, they exhibit a combination of both behaviors. Option 3, "move with the wave and energy is propagated," describes this behavior accurately.
To understand this concept, it's helpful to visualize water waves. When a disturbance, such as a stone being dropped into a still pond, creates a water wave, the particles of water are not physically transferred from one point to another. Instead, the disturbance causes the particles to oscillate up and down in a circular or elliptical motion.
In the case of ocean waves, as the wave travels, water particles move in a circular motion, both forward and backward, as well as up and down. This means the particles move with the wave, but they do not experience a net displacement in the direction of the wave propagation.
At the same time, energy is indeed propagated through the water. The wave carries energy from one location to another, allowing the wave to propagate across the surface of the water. This occurs through the transfer of potential energy to kinetic energy and back.
In summary, when water waves travel, the water particles move with the wave in a circular motion while the energy is propagated through the medium. Therefore, option 3, "move with the wave and energy is propagated," is the correct answer.