Final answer:
A tsunami is caused by disturbances such as earthquakes beneath the ocean, with speeds up to 600 km/h and potentially devastating impacts on coastal regions. The distance between wave crests of such a tsunami can be calculated using the speed and wave frequency, resulting in crests that are 150 km apart for a tsunami traveling at 600 km/h with one crest every 15 minutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A tsunami is a series of enormous ocean waves usually caused by underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. These waves can travel at high speeds and have significant destructive power, particularly when they reach shallow coastal waters. The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, for instance, resulted in a catastrophic loss of life and property, due to a powerful earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. The 2011 tsunami in Japan, also triggered by a massive earthquake, caused additional damage to nuclear energy facilities, leading to severe consequences.
To calculate the distance between wave crests of a tsunami traveling at 600 km/h with a frequency of one wave crest every 15 minutes, we use the formula speed = distance/time. With a speed of 600 km/h and a time of 1/4 hour (15 minutes), the distance between wave crests would be:
Distance = Speed × Time = 600 km/h × 1/4 h = 150 km
Therefore, the wave crests would be 150 km apart at sea.