question: Is water a form of matter that wave energy can travel through? answer: No, water is a liquid and therefore wave energy cannot travel through it paragraph: Waves are the way energy travels through matter. Ocean waves are energy traveling through water. They form when wind blows over the surface of the ocean. Wind energy is transferred to the sea surface. Then, the energy is carried through the water by the waves. Figure 2.52 shows ocean waves crashing against rocks on a shore. They pound away at the rocks and anything else they strike. Three factors determine the size of ocean waves: 1. The speed of the wind 2. The length of time the wind blows 3. The distance the wind blows The faster, longer, and farther the wind blows, the bigger the waves are. Bigger waves have more energy. 