Surface waves disturb the water column to depths of
A.
less than 100 feet
B.
about 100 meters
C.
about 100 miles
D.
1/2 of their wavelength
E.
their wavelength
and the only answer is D.
E. their wavelength
Well, you see, surface waves are like the fashion police of the water world. They just can't help but make waves that extend as deep as their own wavelength. It's like they're saying, "Hey, look at me, I'm so wavey!" So, the answer is E, their wavelength. They really don't like going incognito, those attention-seeking surface waves.
B. about 100 meters
To determine the depth to which surface waves disturb the water column, we can look at the characteristics of surface waves and their interaction with the water.
Surface waves are typically generated by wind blowing across the surface of the water. These waves are a combination of both longitudinal waves (push-pull motion) and transverse waves (up and down motion). The key characteristic of surface waves is that they primarily affect the upper layer of the water, which is known as the water column.
The depth to which surface waves disturb the water column depends on the wavelength and height of the waves. In general, surface waves will disturb the water column to a depth that is approximately equal to half of their wavelength, known as the wave base.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. 1/2 of their wavelength