Here's how it works:
* As the wave passes, water molecules rise and fall in a circular path. They don't move far horizontally.
* The diameter of this circle decreases with depth. The deeper you go, the smaller the circular motion becomes.
* At a certain depth, the water molecules are essentially stationary. This is called the wave base.
Think of it like this: Imagine a rope tied to a post. If you shake the rope, you'll create a wave that travels along the rope. The individual pieces of the rope don't travel down the rope; they just move up and down. Water waves behave similarly.
This circular motion is the reason why objects floating on the surface of the water bob up and down as a wave passes, but they don't get carried away with the wave itself.
