OCEAN WAVE SIMULATOR

Hi All,

We have used trays in class to test various ways that waves act when in a closed container.  Have you ever wondered how ocean waves are created?  Nobody is making a constant disturbance in it like we were in the tray, how do they always seem to be there on the beach?  Wave simulatorThis website will give you an idea of how ocean waves travel and what affects their intensity.  Have a look.  You will need to press play when you get to the page.

Note:  Check out what happens to the wavelength as you increase or decrease wind across the ocean surface.

What about wave speed and intensity?  Think back to the experiment we did with the ropes and slinkies, less energy, longer wavelength, right?  Check it out! Write a short reflection about this simulation and what you noticed and add the link to your blog.

Using balls to represent wave energy

Today in science class, we used various balls with different densities to represent a wave. Waves act in a similar manner as when a ball is rolled towards a flat surface. We worked with partners to find out if there is a certain way that a ball (wave) acts or behaves.

Create a blog post stating your observations, analysis and conclusion.

How is the angle at which the ball (wave) hits the wall related to the angle at which it bounces back?

Does energy (density or speed of the ball) affect the waves path?

What happens to a wave as it hits a surface it cannot pass through?

How do waves interact?

Yesterday in class we completed a discovery activity using trays of water and clay to investigate how waves react when they interact with each other, reach a barrier, or reach two barriers.  There were a lot of questions and experiments happening in class and it was really exciting to watch.

In a new blog post, explain the materials you and your partner used, the tests you completed for each scenario (no barriers, one barrier, two barriers) and be sure to explain how the waves reacted when they met.