Question:

Although waves in the open ocean propagate in all directions, waves washing into any shore usually move nearly perpendicular to the shore. Which of the following best explains the reason for this phenomenon?

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When waves encounter shallow water, their speed decreases, leading to diffraction as they bend around obstacles.
Updated On: Mar 30, 2025
  • The shallow water decreases the speed of the waves causing them to refract
  • The shallow water increases, the speed of the waves causing them to refract
  • The shallow water decreases the speed of the waves causing them to diffract
  • The shallow water increases the speed of the waves causing them to diffract
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation


In shallow water, the wave speed decreases, causing the waves to change direction and diffract. This is due to the change in the properties of the medium when the waves move from deeper to shallow regions.
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