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How do waves form?
Waves form when wind, or another movement, gives energy to the water.
Most of the waves you see in the sea are made by wind. Wind rubs against the top of the water and pushes it, so the water moves up and down. The stronger the wind blows, the bigger the waves get.
In a wave, the water does not really move forward. It just bobs up and down. If you threw a piece of cork into the sea, it would bounce up and down in the same spot as the wave passed, not move forward.
Some big waves come from earthquakes too. If the ground shakes under the sea, it can make a huge wave called a tsunami. Tsunami waves can be very fast and very dangerous.
Quick facts
- Most waves are made by wind.
- In a wave, the water does not move forward — it just bobs up and down.
- Earthquakes under the sea can make giant waves called tsunamis.
- The stronger the wind, the bigger the wave.
- The Moon's pull makes tides.
Check what you remember
3 questions — all of them come from the quick facts above. There is no score and no wrong turn.
1. What makes most sea waves?
2. How does the water in a wave move?
3. What giant wave can an underwater earthquake cause?
Where this comes from
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1 tr.wikipedia.org 80/100Wave - Wikipedia
An encyclopedia page that explains simply what a wave is and how it forms.
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2 tr.wikipedia.org 78/100Tsunami - Wikipedia
Explains giant waves caused by earthquakes, known as tsunamis.
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3 nasa.gov 60/100NASA
You can find information from space showing how the Moon and Earth affect tides.
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