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Science Launch G4 / Week 06 / Friday
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Week 06 · Wave Patterns

Friday

Waves in the wild
// Amplitude, wavelength and waves that move things
⏱ about 15 min

Friday: Waves in the wild

At the beach, waves crash and fizz around Raven's ankles. The water rushes up the sand, then slides back.

Farther out, a seagull floats past the breaking waves, bobbing gently.

"The gull is just going up and down," Rocket says. "But my feet are getting soaked!"

"What do you notice that is different here at the shore?" Raven asks.

Nova circles above. "My hint," she says. "Deep water and shallow water do not behave the same way."

Ocean waves

Most ocean waves are made by wind blowing across the water.

Out in deep water, waves carry energy across the ocean, not the water itself.

A gull floating out there bobs up and down as each wave passes.

At the beach, the water does move forward. It rushes up the sand and then slides back.

Waves can make objects move. They lift boats and rock floating toys up and down.

WAVES AT THE BEACH
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why does the gull in deep water bob instead of rushing to shore?
What makes most ocean waves?
A WAVE REACHES THE BEACH
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last
Waves carry ____ across the ocean, not the water itself.
WHY THIS EXERCISEThis is the big idea of waves: energy travels while the water stays nearby.

Deep water and the shore

Out in deep water, a floating gull bobs as each wave passes. The energy moves on.

Near the beach, the water itself rushes forward onto the sand, then slides back.

Both are waves made by wind. The shore is where the water finally moves forward.

StatementTrue or false?
Most ocean waves are made by wind.?
A gull in deep water bobs as waves pass.?
At the beach, water never moves forward.?
Waves can lift a boat up and down.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEDeep water bobs in place, but at the shore water rushes up the sand.
OCEAN THINKING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A toy boat floats in a pool. Someone makes waves. What will the boat do?
Where did Raven's feet get soaked?
Most ocean waves are made by ____.
In deep water, a floating gull moves up and ____.
Try it
In a tub, float a small toy near one end. Leave the other end shallow, like a beach.
Make steady waves at the deep end with your hand.
Watch the toy. Then watch the water at the shallow end.
Safety first
Wipe up spilled water right away.
Have a grown-up nearby whenever you play with water.
Draw a wave traveling across the ocean to a beach. Show a gull bobbing in deep water and water rushing up the sand.

What a splashy week! Tomorrow at Launch Lab, your family makes giant rope waves.

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