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The movement of water within a wave travels ____. in a circular path at a depth

ID: 157416 • Letter: T

Question

The movement of water within a wave travels ____.

in a circular path at a depth of one-half the wavelength

in an up and down motion to a depth of one-half the wavelength

with the wave

in both a longitudinal and circular path

in a circular path at and just below the water surface

a.

in a circular path at a depth of one-half the wavelength

b.

in an up and down motion to a depth of one-half the wavelength

c.

with the wave

d.

in both a longitudinal and circular path

e.

in a circular path at and just below the water surface

Explanation / Answer

d.in both a longitudinal and circular path

Water waves are an example of waves that involve a combination of both longitudinal and transverse motions. As a wave travels through the waver, the particles travel in clockwise circles. The radius of the circles decreases as the depth into the water increases. The movie below shows a water wave travelling from left to right in a region where the depth of the water is greater than the wavelength of the waves. I have identified two particles in yellow to show that each particle indeed travels in a clockwise circle as the wave passes.