Please review the passage regarding an earthquake: "A seismic event beneath the ocean generated a massive wave known as a tsunami. This tsunami traversed the ocean and struck a distant island, resulting in extensive damage." Is the water that impacted the island the same water that was located above the earthquake on the ocean floor?

Question

Please review the passage regarding an earthquake: "A seismic event beneath the ocean generated a massive wave known as a tsunami. This tsunami traversed the ocean and struck a distant island, resulting in extensive damage." Is the water that impacted the island the same water that was located above the earthquake on the ocean floor?
A. No, the energy within the wave propelled the water particles from above the earthquake in the opposite direction.
D. No, the water situated above the earthquake remained stationary, with only the energy being transferred.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct answer is **D**: No, the water situated above the earthquake remained stationary, with only the energy being transferred. This explanation is accurate because during a tsunami, the wave is a transfer of energy rather than a mass transport of the water itself. The water above the earthquake does not move directly to the island; instead, energy from the seismic event travels through the water column, creating the wave that moves across the ocean. The individual water particles mostly move in orbital motions, but they do not travel in a straight line to the distant land, leading to the tsunami impacting the island.