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Why are there waves? |
Everything Water
Most of the waves in the ocean are actually caused by wind! When wind blows and pushes across the surface of the water, it causes the water to move around… and this creates waves!
Once the wind has made one part of the water move into a wave, that part of the water passes this energy on to its neighbor, who uses this energy to move and wave also. This happens all the way along to the shore, which is why you often see bigger waves turning into smaller and smaller waves all the way in!
The wave finally “ends” when it reaches the shallow shore of the beach, where it basically falls on top of itself because there is no more water left, and it cannot “pass” the wave any further!
Do the wave!
You and your friends can pretend to “pass the wave” just like the water in the ocean!
Gather at least four friends and sit together in a circle. One person has to “start” the wave by standing up and raising his or her hands in the air, and then sitting right back down. As soon as this friend has “started” the wave, the next friend sitting to the left can pick up on the wave by doing the same thing -- standing up and raising his or her hands in the air.
Repeat this process all the way around the circle, then begin again and let another friend be the person who starts the wave!
As you go around the circle, try also sharing your favorite activities to do at the beach, or giving yourselves special “Wave Names” like Willy or Wanda!
- “Making Waves.” Science Wire. Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception. 26 Jul. 2009
- "wave[2]." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010. Merriam-Webster Online. 26 July 2009
i told my kids waves were caused by tides. guess i'm wrong. thanks for clairifying!!!!!