Question 1385 Deck Safety

The correct answer is A) preventing the wave crests from breaking. When oil is spread on the open sea, it forms a thin film on the water's surface. This oil film reduces the surface tension of the water, which in turn prevents the wave crests from breaking. The oil helps to dampen the wave action, resulting in a smoother, more uniform wave pattern with less turbulence at the wave crests. The other options are incorrect because: B) lengthening the distance between successive crests is not the primary effect of spreading oil on the open sea, C) diminishing the height of the seas is not an accurate description of the effect, and D) increasing the height of the seas is the opposite of what actually occurs.