Fish Wave

Startled fish cause a wave surge as their individual movements constructively interfere.

• How can small fish make a big wave?

• Why do the waves get bigger and then smaller?
• Does this pattern appear in other circumstances?

Students could: 

• View Fish Wave 1 to see the wave’s amplitude increasing and generate questions.
• View Fish Wave 2 and see the fish in random movement before the phenomenon and the stimulus for their reaction. This video has a wider view and shows both raceways of fish reacting with different results. Compare this to the first video and generate additional questions. 
• Review the wave interference and the Double Slit Experiment to show light’s wave properties by demonstrating the constructive interference and the diffraction pattern that develops from interference with the reflected waves.
• Investigate how small disturbances can add up to waves with big amplitudes or show students waves through a liquid reflecting off a solid surface. 

• PBS Digital Studios | Traveling Waves: Crash Course Physics #17: This video provides the basics of waves (0:00 to 2:10).
• JavaLab Simulations | Wave Propagation: This simulation allows students to propagate waves, showing the development of an diffraction pattern.
• JavaLab Simulations | Double Slip Experiment: Simulate the Double Slit Experiment with this interactive. 
• The Physics Classroom | Wave Addition: This teacher-generated wave simulation activity also contains links to curriculum materials and other resources
• Veritasium | The Original Double Slit Experiment: This video contains explanations and demonstrations. He talks to the man on the street about light and goes briefly into the history of light as a wave (0:59-2:14), shows a simple double slit experiment (2:15-3:45), and explains it using water waves (4:14-6:33).