Water Oscillations

• Databot

• IOS/Android Smart Device

• Container with water

• Small weight for databot

• Paper sheet for measurement

• Install Vizeey™ on your
  Smart device.

Overview

Background

What You Will Need/Prep

• Test your databot™ connection.

• You will be prompted to select
  and connect to databot™ each
  time you launch an experiment.

• If there are two or more
  databot™'s listed, the one
  closest to your device will be
  highlighted.

Water Oscillations

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy through
a medium. In this lesson, you will explore how waves
behave in water and how you can measure their
properties such as height and frequency using databot.

• Study the background
  information and terms and
  prepare to explore!

Grades: Middle School

Time: 45 Minutes

Subject: Physical Science

Topics: Wave, Wave Frequency,
Height, and Amplitude

Water waves are a fascinating way to explore how
energy moves through liquids. Waves are created when
energy is transferred through water, causing it to move
in a pattern. In water, waves are typically generated by
wind, earthquakes, or other forces acting on the
surface. They are characterized by several key
properties:

• Wave Height: The vertical distance between the
  crest (highest point) and trough (lowest point) of
  the wave.

• Wavelength: The horizontal distance between two
  consecutive crests or troughs.

• Frequency: The number of waves that pass a given
  point in a specific time period.

• Period: The time it takes for one complete wave to
  pass a point.

• Amplitude: The maximum vertical displacement of
  the wave from its resting position, which reflects the
  wave's energy.

When waves travel across the surface of the water, the
particles of water move in circular motions, creating a
rolling effect. The size and behavior of waves depend
on factors such as wind speed, the distance the wind
travels over the water (fetch),the depth of the water, and
even obstacles the water encounters along the way.

Understanding these properties helps scientists and
engineers predict wave behavior, design structures to
withstand wave forces, and study natural phenomena
like tsunamis and tides.

In this investigation you will master the following knowledge and skills:

• Use databot’s sensors to measure and analyze wave motion.

• Observe and measure wave height and frequency.

• Compare data from different wave generation methods.

• Understand the relationship between wave height and energy.

• Wave: A disturbance that transfers energy through space or a medium.

• Frequency: The number of waves that pass a point in a given time.

• Wave Height: The vertical distance between the trough and crest of a wave.

• Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position.

This hands-on experiment demonstrates fundamental principles
of wave motion and how sensors can capture and analyze
physical phenomena.

Interesting Facts About Waves

Waves come in different types, including surface waves, internal waves (within the
water body), and even rogue waves, which are unexpectedly large and dangerous.

Surfing relies on ocean waves, which are created by wind energy transferring to the
water. The larger the wind and fetch, the bigger the waves for surfers to ride.

Tsunamis, often caused by undersea earthquakes, can travel at speeds of up to 500
miles per hour across the ocean.

Waves also play a role in renewable energy, with wave energy converters harnessing
their motion to generate electricity.

In this lab you will use two sensors:
accelerometer and proximity sensor (10 cm)

The lesson is divided into two parts. In the first
part, you will use a proximity sensor, and in the
second part, you will use an accelerometer. You
can select them from the tab here.

• databot acceleration graph

Press this button to start the experiment.

In order to work with the experiment you need to launch the Vizeey application and click on
+ in the upper right corner.

Then select “Add experiment from QR code” and scan the QR code prepared for this
experiment. Your experiment will appear in the list.

Using Vizeey

When you start the experiment active databots show up in
your connection list. Select the one with the strongest
signal (blue). Make sure your databot is turned on.

• Current acceleration

Databot has two operating modes:

• Vizeey Mode (for use with the Vizeey app).

• Web Server Mode

To activate Vizeey Mode:

• Position the Databot with its sensors facing
  upward and turn it on.

• If the databot’s LED glows green, it’s in Web
  Server Mode. If this happens, turn it off, adjust
  the orientation, and try again.

Good

Bad

• Current proximity

• databot proximity graph

What happens to the water when a disturbance occurs?

How do the waves change as they move farther from the source of the disturbance?

Are the waves uniform, or do they vary in height and speed?

How do you think the wave height will change if the force applied to the water increases?

Do you think waves occurring closer to databot will show different readings compared to
waves occurring farther away? Why or why not?

What do you think happens to the wave height if you change the water level in the
container?

Part 1: Initial Observations and Questions

Part 2: Hypothesis

Part 3: Experiment Procedure

Investigating Water Oscillations

You’ll study the characteristics of water oscillations using databot and analyze wave
motion data.

Materials Needed:

• A container with water (e.g., a transparent plastic container or a glass bowl).

• Databot

• A stick or dropper to create water oscillations.

Experiment Steps:

• Select a container that can hold water and is stable on a flat surface.

• Fill the container with water up to 2/3 of its volume.

• Turn on databot.

• Position databot so that its distance sensor is directed at the water's surface, or place it
  securely on a platform next to the container. The Databot’s sensor will measure the
  distance from the sensor to the water surface.

• Select the tab “Proximity” for this part of the experiment.

• Use the stick or dropper to lightly tap the surface of the water, creating small waves.

• Observe how the waves are detected and displayed as oscillations on the graph within
  the Vizeey app.

Analysis Question:

Analyze the graph displayed in the Vizeey app. Why do you think the data points on the
graph are not stable?

Water Oscillations and Their Modeling

You’ll investigate the properties of water oscillations.

Materials Needed:

• Transparent container (bowl or water bathtub).

• Databot

Experiment Steps:

• Fill the container with water up to 2/3 of its volume.

• Measure and record the depth of the water using a wooden stick or a thin sheet of heavy
  cardboard.

• Secure a small weight (e.g., a coin or ball) to databot using a string or rubber band.
  Attach one end of the string to databot and the other to the weight. The weight should
  hang beneath databot, with the sensors facing upward.

• Turn on databot

Do not use a thin sheet of paper, it can quickly get wet and will not show the correct
results.

• A small weight

• Rubber band or string.

To analyze the chart, click on the 2 arrows

To see the values at any point of the graph, you first
need to use the “Pick data” button.

• Submerge a new dry stick or thin sheet of cardboard into the container all the way to
  the bottom.

• Using databot with a weight attached, move it up and down in the water for 5 seconds
  to create oscillations.

• Remove the stick or cardboard and measure the length of the wet part

• Stop the experiment.

Click on any point on the chart to see the values.

Knowing the time of several peaks you can subtract the time of the oscillations you created.

T= 2.4 - 1.8 = 0.6 с

Let's calculate the height of the wave.

By analyzing the data from the sticks,
calculate the height of the wave

Part 4: Data Analysis

Knowing the time of oscillation that you created and the height of the wave, you can
calculate the wave frequency

The wave frequency is 1.67 Hz

Make your calculations here.

Draw your wave here and note any characteristics you have learned about it

What patterns can you observe in the graph when waves were generated?

How does the weight attached to databot influence the amplitude of the waves?

How changes in the water level or weight would alter the graph's results. Test your
predictions if time permits.

Part 6: Reflection