Wave tank modelling
Activity idea
In this activity, students use a shallow tray of water to demonstrate wave generation and behaviour.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- demonstrate how surf and tsunami waves originate
- demonstrate how surf and tsunami waves interact with the ocean floor
- demonstrate how wave height (amplitude) is increased due to shoaling.
Download the Word file (see link above) for:
- introduction/background notes
- what you need
- what to do
- discussion questions.
- NATURE OF SCIENCE
Models are a way of visualising something we cannot safely or directly observe. The wave tank model helps us to represent surf and tsunami waves, but not with complete accuracy.
