In a water wave the water movesMultiple choice question.only back and forth horizontallyonly up and down verticallyup and down and back and forth

In a water wave, the movement of water particles is crucial to understanding how waves propagate. The movement is typically characterized as a combination of vertical and horizontal motions. This means that as a wave travels through the water, the water particles move in circular or elliptical paths, which results in both vertical and horizontal displacement.

Motion Descriptions:

1. Back and Forth Horizontally: This movement implies a purely horizontal oscillation without any vertical component, which is not typical for water waves.
2. Up and Down Vertically: This suggests that water particles move only vertically, which again is not a complete description of water wave motion.
3. Up and Down and Back and Forth: This indicates that water particles exhibit both vertical and horizontal displacement, correctly representing the physics of surface water waves, where particles move primarily in circular paths.

Conclusion:

The correct answer is up and down and back and forth. This reflects the true nature of water wave motion, where water particles move in orbits, demonstrating both vertical and horizontal movement as the wave propagates across the surface of the water.