Note: Print out this worksheet or copy it in a piece of BOND PAPER

Note to parents: Please do not allow your child to do the activity without adult supervision

Let’s make a wave! Part 1

Materials:

Clear water container (2’ microwavable plastic container)

Water

Pencil

Procedure:

1. Fill the water container to the brim, but not spilling.

2. Locate the center of the container and tap it with your pencil. Look at the waves produced.

3. Looking at the top of the container, what does the wave look like? The circle represents the place where you tapped
the water. Draw it on the box below.

Figure 1: Top view of waves created by tapping the water

4. Looking at the side of the container, what does the wave look like? The circle represents the place where you tapped
the water. Draw it on the box below.

Figure 2: Side view of the waves created by tapping the water

5. Continue tapping the water. What happens when the wave had hit the sides of the container?

6. What happens to the waves if you increase the rate of tapping? Do you produce more waves or less waves? What
about the size of the waves (hint: look at the side view of the container)

Let’s Make Waves! Part 2

Materials:

Rope/wire or any rope-like object (extension cord wire would be excellent to use!)

Paper and pencil

Reminder: Be responsible in doing this activity; please be reminded that you are doing a science activity and PLAYING
IS NOT ALLOWED.

1. Straighten the rope and place it above a long table or on the floor.
2. Hold one end of the rope and move it up and down. You would be able to observe a pulse. A pulse is one
disturbance (or movement) that moves through a medium (an object)
3. Draw three sketches of the rope showing the motion of the pulse at three subsequent instances (Screenshots at
three different times – 1 sec, 2 sec, and 3sec …)
4. Where is the disturbance going as you move the rope up and down? Draw an arrow in the boxes to represent
the direction of the pulse’s motion.
Sketches of the rope showing motions

Time 1

Time 2

Time 3

Questions:

1. What is the source of the wave pulse?

2. Describe the motion of your hand as you create the pulse
3. Which of the waves in part 1 does the wave produced in part b look like? The top view wave or the side view
wave?
4. Describe the motion of the PULSE with respect to the SOURCE.

Let’s Make Waves! Part 3

Rope/ wire or any rope-like object (extension cord wire would be excellent to use!)

Small piece of ribbon/ paper

Procedure:

1. Tie one end of the rope on a rigid and fixed object (e.g. table, chair, door knobs etc.)
2. Attach a colored ribbon/paper on the side where you will be holding the rope. (not so tight!)
3. Make a wave by continuously vibrating the end of the rope with quick up-and-down movements of you hand.
4. Observe the motion of the colored ribbon/paper. What is happening to it as time progresses?

Questions:
1. Does the wave transport the colored ribbon from its original position to the end of the rope?
2. How does the ribbon/paper move as wave pass by? Does it move in the same direction as the wave?
3. Based on the activity, explain how waves carry energy from one place to another.