HARVEY ’ S MISSION
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AQUiLA
MAGAZINE
FRIENDSHIP MANGA !
Let ’ s make waves !
Did you enjoy reading about Hokusai ’ s The Great Wave off Kanagawa on pages 14-15 of our magnificent Manga issue ? Then check out this ostensibly – similar – but – ultimately – only – tenuously – connected science activity !
HARVEY ’ S MISSION
Hokusai ’ s The Great Wave off Kanagawa really is a masterpiece , isn ’ t it ? How does it make you feel ? Small and insignificant against the mighty , unquenchable forces of nature ? Ready to stride into the wild waters of scientific curiosity ? Now ’ s the opportunity to investigate waves in a completely different way – by making some of your own . Your mission is to create your very own ocean inside a large bottle .
ACTIVITY SKILLS
1 hour
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Waves are formed by wind blowing over water . Just how big the wave grows depends on the strength of the wind and the fetch – that is how far the wind blows over water . Over the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean surf waves grow to vast sizes .
DIFFICULTY
STEP 1 :
Use a funnel or a jug to carefully pour water into the bottle so that it ’ s about 1 / 3 full . You want to keep as much air out of the bottle as you can . Add a few drops of food colouring to the water . Blue would be good to give it a real ‘ ocean ’ look .
STEP 2 :
Use a funnel or a jug to carefully fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable oil ( any oil will do but make sure you ask an adult first ). Top the bottle up right to the top , to cut down on the amount of air left inside . ( See figure 1 )
YOU WILL NEED
o Large two-litre plastic bottle with cap
o Food colouring o Vegetable oil o Jug or funnel o Water
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