What exactly is it that makes the noise of waves on the shore?

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What exactly is it that makes the noise of waves on the shore?

In: Physics

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It is the sound of the physical impact of water molecules hitting the beach and, far more importantly, other water molecules.

Unless the waves are strong enough to cause water to Crest and then fall back down into the ocean, you are not going to get very much sound from a beach. The water merely sloshing back and forth in small non-cresting waves makes very little sound at all.

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s sound of millions of drops, bubbles and splashes of water hitting rocks, plus sound of billions rocks and sand particles colliding with each other as water moves them. Sound of waves hitting smooth concrete walls is noticeable quieter. And if water is still and just barely moves sand, you can hear faint noise of that sand moving, which is much closer to “gray noise”, whilst usual waves hitting shores sound has much more distinctive ticks and hits and all that bubbling noise.