 Making
Waves : Student Pages
Background
information | Materials
Introduction:
Fast
and slow swimming pools? What are they? Wave motion affects the speed
(how fast or slow) the athletes can swim. For example, deep pools
transfer less wave motion than shallow ones. This is an important
design consideration for Olympic swimming pools. Waves cause more
water resistance on the swimmers, slowing them down.
Working
in teams you will design, build and evaluate a model of an Olympic
swimming pool. Although the science background will be provided, it
will be the team's job to determine the design criteria, develop a
plan, build the model, hold the costs down and present your design
for evaluation. A small action figure will be towed through your swimming
pool model. The shallowest swimming pool model reflecting the smallest
waves will win the competition.
1. You
have been asked by the Universal Olympic Committee to investigate
designs and build a swimming pool model for the next summer games.
The committee hopes to give athletes every opportunity to break
the world's swimming records during the games.
 2.
Read the background section
on waves, Olympic rules, the design of swimming pools and model
guidelines by clicking on the background button on the left of the
screen.
3. You
will work in groups. List the different parts of an Olympic swimming
pool. Write any special information, such as required size and materials,
next to the corresponding part's name.
4. What
have you learned about minimising waves on water? List the factors
which affect pool speed.
 5.
Design your pool. Prepare a list of items that could be used to
build your group's model. Don't forget to include tools that you
may need. A few materials to consider are listed on the Materials
page, which you can access by clicking the button on the left.
Computer
drawing of a pool model.
6.
Build your pool. You and your team members will build your model over
two class periods. Check out the wave characteristics of your pool
and modify its design as needed.
You
may want to place a bath mat or plastic tarpaulin under your pool
model in case of water spills. Consider adding food colouring to the
water - it may help you see the waves. Masking tape or small clamps
can be used to temporarily attach the lane ropes to the pool model.
To
check out your pool's characteristics tow a 'swimmer' back or forth
across the pool. Attach a length of fishing line to a wooden skewer.
Attach an elastic band, paper clip or action figure to the other end
of the fishing line. Hold the skewer and drag your swimmer across
the pool.
Are
you creating reflected waves against the walls of your pool model?
Do your lane ropes stop waves from travelling into other pool lanes?
If not you might want to change your design.
7.
You and your team will make a presentation. Describe your model's
design and dimensions, cost, the materials used, the water wave characteristics
seen in your pool model and how your team's model evolved. Consider
using computer software to make technical drawings of your pool or
to prepare your presentation.
All
models will be tested based on a set of criteria. A shallow model
with small reflected waves is the goal.
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What factors affect the speed of a swimming pool?
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What
did you enjoy the most about this lesson?
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Did
your team finish the project?
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If
you did this project again would you plan it differently? How?
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If
you did this project again, how would you change your design?
Background
information | Materials
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