Activity 5.

Tsunami!

Objectives:

After performing this activity, you should be able to:

1. explain how tsunamis are generated; and

2. infer why tsunamis do not always occur even when there is an earthquake

Materials Needed:

1. flat basin or laundry tub (batya)

2. water
3. rectangular piece of plastic panel or plywood
4. rock

Procedure:

1. Put water in the container. Place the rock in the water at one end of the container (Figure 15).

2. At the other end of the container, put the plastic panel flat at the bottom of the container (Figure 16,
left).

Figure 15. Setup for the tsunami activity

3. You will need some help: a person to watch the surface of the water, and another to watch the level of
water by the rock. Things will happen quickly, so make sure your assistants are alert.

4. Hold the corners of the plastic panel with your thumbs and fingertips. Wait for the water to stop moving.
Using only your fingertips, jerk the edge of the plastic board upward (Figure 16, right).
 Figure 16. (Left) The plastic panel placed flat at the bottom of the container. (Right) Wait for the water to stop
moving, then suddenly jerk the edge of the plastic panel upward (see white arrow).

Q1. What was formed in the water by the sudden push of the plastic panel?

Q2. How was the water level by the rock affected by the wave?

Q3. What does the water represent? How about the rock?

Q4. What does the plastic panel represent?