How Does a Ripple Tank Work?

A ripple tank is a transparent shallow tray of water with a light shining down through it onto a white card below. The light allows you to see the motion of the ripples created on the water's surface more easily. Ripples can be made by hand but to generate regular ripples it is better to use a motor.

What causes ripples on a water tank?

It is a specialized form of a wave tank. The ripple tank is usually illuminated from above, so that the light shines through the water. ... Ripples may be generated by a piece of wood that is suspended above the tank on elastic bands so that it is just touching the surface.

How does a ripple wave work?

When you throw a rock into a river, it pushes water out of the way, making a ripple that moves away from where it landed. As the rock falls deeper into the river, the water near the surface rushes back to fill in the space it left behind.