Wave goodbye to the same old demonstrations for alternative energy sources, and wave hello to this one investigating ocean waves! Using a water bottle to create an oscillating water column, learners see and possibly hear how the mechanical energy can be used to do work. This would be a fun and pertinent addition to your alternative energy unit.

Concepts

wave energy, waves, alternative energy sources, renewable energy sources

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Additional Tags

wave energy, wave power, alternative energy, renewable energy, oscillating water column, science

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Pros

• This model is a unique in that it is rare to find a demonstration of waves as an alternative power source

Cons

• Since this is not a classic demonstration, be sure to test it out prior to having lab groups construct the oscillating water columns to make sure it works
• Materials, especially a wide-mouth, capped water bottle, are not easy to come by; you might need to order a set online and reuse them year after year as demonstrations rather than having each new class construct their own