In water, energy is propagated in media as _____________.

In water, energy is propagated as waves. This is because waves are disturbances that transfer energy through a medium without permanently displacing the particles of the medium. In the case of water, waves can be mechanical vibrations that travel through the liquid, such as surface waves caused by wind or pressure waves that move through the water.

When energy is imparted to water, it creates fluctuations in the positions of the water molecules, which then transmit energy from one molecule to another, creating wave motion. This can be seen in ocean waves, where the energy from wind action causes the water to move up and down, producing visible wave patterns. Additionally, waves can also encompass sound waves traveling through water, which are vibrations of water molecules that also illustrate the wave concept.

The other options, such as particles, light, and thermal energy, may describe different forms of energy propagation, but they do not accurately represent the primary mechanism by which energy travels in water, which is through wave motion.