Question

Minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day, ocean waves continue to splash onto the shore. Explain why the beach is not completely submerged and why the middle of the ocean has not yet been depleted of its water supply. A) Ocean waves can only bring water to the shore but cannot take it back. The momentum of the water particles switches direction when the wave hits the shore and this momentum takes all the water back into the ocean. B) Ocean waves bring the water and also take it all the way back into the ocean. As such, water does not pile up on the beach. C) Ocean waves can only bring energy to the shore; the particles of the medium (water) simply oscillate about their fixed position. D) None of the choices are correct.

Answer 1

Answer: C. Ocean waves can only bring energy to the shore; the particles of the medium (water) simply oscillate about their fixed position.

Explanation:

The reason why the beach is not completely submerged and the reason why the middle of the ocean has not been depleted of its water supply is due to the fact that water isn't transported by ocean waves.

It should be noted that even a single drop of water cannot be brought by the ocean wave to the shore from the middle of the ocean.

The only thing that the ocean waves can bring to the shore is energy. Hemce, the water particles oscillate in their fixed position which is vital in making sure that the beach isn't piled up with water.