Why does the Ocean have Waves?

The passage explains how wind transfers energy to water, how wave height and frequency relate to wind speed and distance, and how waves behave differently in shallow versus deep water.

The content is naturally organized by causes (wind, seismic activity, tides) and their effects (wave formation, size, behavior), giving students a meaningful context to identify and map cause-and-effect relationships.

This passage pairs well with earth science units on weather, oceans, or energy transfer — students build background knowledge through reading before conducting wave-observation activities.