Hi!
My 3rd grader is a big swimming fan and wants to do his science fair project on how waves are created in the water. My thought was to use a rectangle container with water and use a small blower see the waves. Try it on cold water as well as warm water and see if the waves change by temperature. Any ideas that may make this project better would be appreciated.
Thanks
Waves in the water
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rchatterjee
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- Project Question: My son has been asking how the waves are created in the water. I thought that would make a good science project for the elementary science fair. I was planning to use a rectangle box and blow air. Test how the waves in warm air as well as cold air. Is their anything I am missing?
- Project Due Date: 1/30/2012
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
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deleted-71536
- Former Expert
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- Project Question: How do different animals adapt to their environment?
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Re: Waves in the water
Hi there,
What a great way to follow up with your son's interests! Wind-blown waves are one type of wave that you can see in any body of water - lakes, rivers, and the ocean. I like the idea of seeing whether temperature might change the waves. Make sure to think of ways to measure the differences - height of the waves, or speed. The speed could be measured by following a single wave from one marking on the box to another, and timing how long it takes for that wave to move between the points.
Here are a couple Science Buddies projects related to waves. You can see whether your son is interested in the concepts of these projects, and can modify them for his level.
The Moon and Tides: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p009.shtml
Building Beaches: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p011.shtml
For future ideas, here are a couple projects related to swimming and hydrodynamics:
Drag Racing in the Water: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p052.shtml
The Swimming Secrets of Duck Feet: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p014.shtml
I hope this helps. Please post again (in this same thread) if you have more questions.
Heather
What a great way to follow up with your son's interests! Wind-blown waves are one type of wave that you can see in any body of water - lakes, rivers, and the ocean. I like the idea of seeing whether temperature might change the waves. Make sure to think of ways to measure the differences - height of the waves, or speed. The speed could be measured by following a single wave from one marking on the box to another, and timing how long it takes for that wave to move between the points.
Here are a couple Science Buddies projects related to waves. You can see whether your son is interested in the concepts of these projects, and can modify them for his level.
The Moon and Tides: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p009.shtml
Building Beaches: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p011.shtml
For future ideas, here are a couple projects related to swimming and hydrodynamics:
Drag Racing in the Water: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p052.shtml
The Swimming Secrets of Duck Feet: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p014.shtml
I hope this helps. Please post again (in this same thread) if you have more questions.
Heather

