I know the wind off the ocean pushes the water and makes waves on the beach, but when the wave comes in, what makes it go back out?

Question

I know the wind off the ocean pushes the water and makes waves on the beach, but when the wave comes in, what makes it go back out?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Gravity. Beaches are uphill from the water. The wind pushes the wave hard enough for it to temporarily move uphill but water is heavy so it quickly flows back downhill.