A buoy is floating 200 meters offshore from a local beach. Its position can be measured by a laser rangefinder from the beach. On a clear day with no wind, a tall, three-meter wave lifts the buoy up and then back down as the wave passes along and crashes onto the shore. After the wave passes, the buoy is measured to be very close to its original position.
What is the best explanation for this observation?
The buoy is moved several dozen meters toward the beach from its rest position by the wave, but the undertow of the water returns the buoy to its original position.
The buoy is moved several dozen meters toward the beach from its rest position by the wave, but the undertow of the water returns the buoy to its original position.
The buoy is only minimally displaced from its resting position by the wave because waves transmit energy without transporting matter.
The buoy is only minimally displaced from its resting position by the wave because waves transmit energy without transporting matter.
The force of gravity holds the buoy in its original position, which offsets the tendency of the wave to carry the buoy toward the shore as the wave passes.
The force of gravity holds the buoy in its original position, which offsets the tendency of the wave to carry the buoy toward the shore as the wave passes.
Only tidal forces have the ability to move objects floating in the ocean toward or away from the shore, therefore the wave does not move the buoy.
Only tidal forces have the ability to move objects floating in the ocean toward or away from the shore, therefore the wave does not move the buoy.