Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello my name is Eric and I am wanting to do my 4th grade science fair project on the effect waves have on beach shorelines and am needing help on how I will measure my data and how high the waves will be, any suggestions? Mom said I could put my pan inside a cut out box with the highth marked inside box on how high for the waves just not sure on which would be the best measurement to use? Thanks Eric

Hi Eric,

It seems like you are investigating beach erosion. This fun project bears some resemblance to your interests and might help you with your procedure: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p011.shtml

Note that the experiment above involves working with a small-scale model shoreline. If you want to research an actual shoreline, you can measure the height of waves by placing a wooden ruler or yardstick vertically on the ground in a location where the waves will be able to reach. After some time, you can read the maximum height of those waves by looking at where the waterline is on the ruler.

Best of luck,
Karen

Hi, Eric! It sounds like your are doing something similar to this project https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... #procedure. The procedures for this project do not involve taking any quantitative measurements (numbers) but focus on recording qualitative (descriptions) observations for how the waves affect the beach over time. If you are required to provide number data, then I would suggest measuring the position of the shoreline before and after you apply the waves.

In any experiment, your goal is to find out how the independent variable affects the dependent variable by measuring the change in the dependent variable. In this project, the dependent variable is the change in the position of the shoreline as a result of waves (the independent variable). To measure the change in the position of the shoreline, you should make a mark in the box at where the shoreline begins, and amark where it ends up after the waves are created. Then, measure the distance between the two points (try to use the smallest unit possible). You can label this data "the change in the position of the shoreline".

I hope this helped! Feel free to reply with additional questions.
Trystan