Motion in the Ocean

Waves crash when molecules underwater hit a surface and the molecules on top keep moving because their molecular force is faster. Because of this motion, tides - high tide and low tide - are characterized by the actions of the Moon and the Sun. As the moon moves closer, the water moves outwards, as the Moon moves further away, and the Sun moves closer, the water moves further away.

Water is also characterized by currents, this is caused by water hitting land, or, reflection. Shallow currents are used by ships to sail the world. Global circulation occurs with deep currents.

With northern winds, the circulation of water occurs in a clockwise motion. With southern winds, the circulation of water occurs counterclockwise.

Some more examples of tides are heap tides - these are smaller tides as opposed to spring tides - which are larger.

In relation to refraction, there is also diffraction. Refraction occurs with bent waves, which is the type we normally see. Diffraction occurs when the water passes through 2 objects, like the islands we created on our wave simulator. Reflection is the action when waves hit a surface and bounce off directly.