MAKING WAVES!

Make your own mini ocean and watch waves in slow motion! Do this in a bathroom or kitchen, where any spillages can be cleaned up easily.

You will need

A large empty (but clean) clear plastic or glass bottle (with lid) Pale-coloured cooking oil –enough to fill the bottle 2/3 full Water

Jug

Funnel Blue food colouring

What you do

1. Fill the bottle about 2/3 full of oil using the funnel.

2. Fill the jug with water and add a few drops of blue food colouring.

3. Using the funnel, add the water to the bottle until it’s full to the brim (if there’s not enough, mix up some more blue water in the jug).

4. Now put the lid on tightly and lie the bottle on its side.

TSUNAMI!

A tsunami happens when something makes a lot of seawater move suddenly, such as an undersea earthquake. This makes a giant ripple-shaped wave that spreads out in all directions.

Tsunami waves are long, low and very fast. Out at sea, they are not obvious. But near the shore, the water piles up and floods onto the land. A big tsunami can wash away people, vehicles and even buildings.

5. Wait for your ocean to settle, then quickly lift up the lid end of the bottle and put it back down. This creates a wave that should travel along the bottle. The oil slows it down, making it easier to see.

Try this

Try floating a berry on the layer of water. Does it move up and down or side to side when you make a wave?