The Incredible Edible Wave

Purpose: To learn the parts of a wave

Materials

• candy pieces in various colors (5 of one color and 10-15 of another color per student)
• science journal
• colored pencils
• metric ruler

Procedure

1. Use the 10-15 pieces of candy to create a wave.
2. Once the wave is completed, identify the crest of the wave and place one of the different colored candies at each crest.
3. Identify the trough of the wave and place one of the different colored candies at each trough.
4. In your science journal, draw a diagram of the wave. Use colored pencils and label the crest (top) and trough (bottom).
5. Measure the distance between candy crests. Record this distance on the diagram and label it "wavelength."
6. To find the amplitude of a wave, measure perpendicular from the crest of a wave to the trough. Divide this distance in half. The distance from the top of the crest to the half distance is the amplitude of the wave. See diagram. Label amplitude on diagram.

Conclusion

• In a wave, are the crests always the same height? Explain why or why not.