Question

Which of the following statements describes how waves refract when approaching a shoreline that consists of a headland and an adjacent bay?

O Waves refract toward the bay because water is moving slower in front of the headland than in front of the bay.
O Waves refract toward the bay because water is moving slower in front of the bay than in front of the headland.
O Waves refract toward the headland because water is moving slower in front of the headland than in front of the bay.
O Waves refract toward the headland because water is moving slower in front of the bay than in front of the headland.

Answer 1

Waves refract towards the headland because the water is shallower and moves slower there, causing the waves to bend in that direction. The correct answer is option 4.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the behavior of wave refraction as waves approach a shoreline with a headland and an adjacent bay. When waves travel from deep to shallow water, their speed decreases, causing them to bend or refract. This bending occurs because the part of the wave in shallower water slows down first, altering the wave's overall direction toward the shallower area.

Therefore, waves refract toward the headland where the water is shallower and moving slower, compared to the deeper water in front of the bay. The correct option here is: Waves refract toward the headland because water is moving slower in front of the headland than in front of the bay.