Wave Stoppers

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective was to determine the affect bottom contour has on the height of a wave. I wanted to try to reduce a wave as much as possible. I wanted to find a possible way to help coastal cities like New Orleans to stop big waves. Methods/Materials I used a plastic gutter to try to simulate a small sea or river. I put glass in part of the gutter so I could see the waves. I made a wave making machine from a small section of gutter, a piece of wood, bolts, some aluminum tubing and a piece of string. I used a rubber band to power the machine. I made four different bottoms from cement and combined them to make 6 different bottoms. I used a digital camera to video the trials then used software to stop the videos so I could measure each wave. Results The bottom that performed the best was a long sloped bottom. A close second was the triple hill bottom. Both bottoms reduced the waves over ninety percent. A double hill was the third best wave stopper with over eighty percent of the wave stopped. Conclusions/Discussion My hypothesis was wrong but I met my objective. The single hill was not the best wave stopper. A long slope was most effective. I did find that multiple hills were very effective at stopping waves. Hills would be easier to make than a very long slope. I think hills built in places that need protection from big waves, like coastal cities, could be very effective for saving lives and property.

Competition history

• CSEF 2006 Earth Sciences/ Planetary Sciences/ Physical Environments · Entry J0611

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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