A boat is on the ocean's surface when a wave moves through, as shown here. The wave moves energy through the water. Which of these statements best predicts what will happen to the boat as the wave passes by the boat?

Question

Responses
A The boat will not move forward, backward, nor be displaced up or down.The boat will not move forward, backward, nor be displaced up or down.
B The boat will be carries forward to the shore but will not be displaced up nor down.The boat will be carries forward to the shore but will not be displaced up nor down.
C The boat will move up and then down but will not move forward nor backward as the wave passes underneath.The boat will move up and then down but will not move forward nor backward as the wave passes underneath.
D The boat will move in the reverse direction of the wave as the water moves beneath the boat in a forward direction.The boat will move in the reverse direction of the wave as the water moves beneath the boat in a forward direction.

Answer 1

The best prediction of what will happen to the boat as the wave passes by is:

C. The boat will move up and then down but will not move forward nor backward as the wave passes underneath.

This is because waves in the ocean primarily transfer energy and cause the water's surface to move in a circular motion. As the wave passes, the boat will rise with the wave crest and fall with the trough, but it does not get carried along in the direction of the wave's energy.