Water Waves: Ripples That Reveal Energy Transfer

Water waves form when energy from wind, objects, or seismic activity moves through water.
They don’t carry water forward—instead, water particles move in circular orbits.
The size of a wave depends on wind speed, duration, and the distance it blows across (fetch).
In deep water, waves travel long distances with little loss of energy.
As waves reach shallow shores, their orbits flatten and the waves grow taller before breaking.
The distance between crests is the wavelength, and the time between them is the period.
Big waves carry more energy because of greater amplitude and wavelength.
Tsunamis are extreme water waves, driven by undersea earthquakes or landslides.
Interference patterns can make waves combine into giant rogue waves at sea.
From ripples in a pond to towering surf, water waves are nature’s way of showing energy on the move.