• Question: how does the sea create waves ????

    Asked by 9jackm to Tom, Matt, Hugh, Douglas, Antonia on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Matthew Hurley

      Matthew Hurley answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      TIdal forces are created by the gravitational effect the moon has on the earth. That’s why it’s possible to predict the tides based upon the psotion of the moon (dependent upon time and season).

    • Photo: Douglas Blane

      Douglas Blane answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Apart from tsunamis – which are caused by earthquakes – waves are created by the wind.

      If there was no wind we would still get tides, because they’re caused by the pull of gravity from the moon and the sun.

      But we wouldn’t have any waves.

      So the energy in waves comes from the energy in wind. But where does the energy in the wind come from?

      It comes from the sun. So it’s interesting that wave, wind and solar energy all come in the end from the energy in the sun.

      In fact so does the energy in coal, oil and gas. It’s energy from the sun locked up in ancient plants.

      I’m starting to get off the point a bit. Sorry 🙂

      Here’s a cool vid about waves – and how the wind makes them: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/24262-understanding-oceans-making-waves-video.htm

    • Photo: Hugh Roderick

      Hugh Roderick answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Waves in the sea are created by the many different things. As the moon passes over the sea it causes the water to be pulled towards it, causing tides, the flow of water in tides causes waves. Small waves are caused by light wind, by boats or by small objects dropping into the sea. Big waves are created by heavy winds, earthquakes, mudslides and large objects like icebergs dropping into the sea.

    • Photo: Tom Hardy

      Tom Hardy answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      The sea doesn’t create waves. It is a combination of the wind and the moon. As the wind blows it “pushes” the ocean water ahead of it and energy is transferred to the sea. The sea gets this energy from the wind because of the friction caused on the surface. Imagine blowing the top of your hand, you can feel it because of friction. The gravitational pull of the moon causes the moon to pull sea water towards it and as the moon moved around the Earth is pulls the water a little, making waves.

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