You will need:
- Kebab sticks
- String
- Gaffa tape
- Jelly babies
- Somewhere to safely hang the wave demonstrator (out of the wind)
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School science visits since 2004!
– Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions.
– Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from.
– Designed by experienced educators.
– Over 2 million students reached.
– Face to face incursions & online programs available.
– Early learning centre visits too!
Why Does This Happen?
The wave demonstrator really takes advantage of momentum, leverage and energy.
By twisting the Gaffa tape at the bottom of the demonstrator you are storing potential energy within the tape. This potential energy is released as the Gaffa tape unwinds, transferring the energy into kinetic energy outwards toward the Jelly babies on the end of the stick. Once moving, the Jelly babies have considerable momentum and so continue to spiral around the Gaffa tape, transferring most of that energy back into the Gaffa tape. The Gaffa tape can’t help but twist up again, which causes the tape to then subsequently release the energy as it unravels, yet again transferring that the energy onwards to the next row of kebab sticks. The process continues until the energy dissipates out of the system.
This is a great demonstration of energy and not matter travelling throughout a system, which is essentially what happens in waves.
Variable testing
- Try different weights on the end of the sticks. Does this make a difference?
- Try different types of tape
- Does the length of the sticks matter?
From frequency & amplitude to echoes & wave distortions, we’ve got your unit on sound covered!
Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class.
Light & Sound
Years 1 to 6
Maximum 30 students
Workshop or Show (NSW & VIC)
60 minute show or 90 minute workshop
Online Class Available
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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