Book 14, Question 6
How Are Water Ripples Like Sound Waves?
Water ripples and sound waves are alike because both carry energy without carrying stuff along! A ripple spreads in circles from where a pebble lands. A sound spreads outward from where a vibration begins.
More fun facts
- Water ripples are waves that travel across water.
- Ripples are transverse waves, because the water surface moves up and down while the wave moves along.
- Water waves come from vibrations in a liquid, and sound waves from vibrations in a gas like air.
- In the ocean, a sound channel lets sound waves travel thousands of kilometers.
- A whale's calls spread through the water as sound waves.
Sources: BBC, NASA Science, NOAA Ocean Service
Questions kids ask
Are ripples the same kind of wave as sound?
No. Ripples are transverse waves, while sound waves are longitudinal.